Additional Coverage:
During a daring kayaking expedition along the Lukuga River in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, a tragic encounter with a crocodile ended the life of explorer Hendri Coetzee. The harrowing event unfolded in December 2010 as Coetzee and his companions, Chris Korbulic and Ben Stookesberry, aimed to become the first to navigate this challenging white water route.
Aware of the river’s dangerous wildlife, including hippos and crocodiles, the trio stayed close together to enhance their safety. However, at a narrow stretch of the river just 100 feet wide, the group became momentarily separated. Coetzee was paddling in the center, with Stookesberry ahead and Korbulic at the rear.
Suddenly, a massive crocodile launched itself from the water, striking Coetzee’s kayak on the left side. Korbulic recalled the terrifying moment: “I glanced over and just in my periphery I saw the crocodile come out of the water, and he got onto Coetzee’s left shoulder with its mouth.” The reptile dragged Coetzee underwater in an instant, leaving his companions in shock and unable to intervene.
In the immediate aftermath, Korbulic and Stookesberry fled to a nearby village, deeply shaken. Locals estimated the crocodile to be around 15 feet long and weighing approximately two tons. The missing kayak was later found intact, bearing no signs of damage from the attack.
In January 2011, over 200 friends and family gathered at the river to honor Coetzee’s memory. A wooden raft adorned with flowers, prayer flags, poems, and photographs was set aflame and sent drifting into the rapids at sunset-a poignant tribute to a man who embraced exploration as both passion and expression.
Pete Meredith, a close friend, reflected on the significance of the location: “He used to call this the center of the universe. It was close to the heart of Africa, at the source of the Nile, the people were so friendly, and the water was amazing.”
Korbulic added, “Hendri was a student, a teacher, and a devotee to his church of exploration. His adventure was his self-expression, and this is the way he would have wanted to go.”