The body of a 43 year old man of Zimbabwean origin was retrieved from the Thamalakane River on Sunday morning after a canoe he was driving capsized as he tried to cross from Boseja to the other side of the river. According to Acting Maun Station Commander Assistant Superintendent Neo Serumola, the deceased, who was by then crying out for help, was spotted by a man working at a local lodge, which is located at the banks of the river- just a stone throw from the Maun Botswana Defence Force Camp at around 6.30 on Sunday morning.
Serumola said the man at the lodge, together with a colleague immediately rushed to the scene in an attempt to rescue the deceased, but their efforts failed as he had already drowned deep and could not be seen. He said the suspicion is that his canoe might have been hit by one of the many hippos in the river, causing it to capsize. “We rushed to the scene soon after the incident was reported to us, and with assistance from BDF scuba divers, the deceased was finally retrieved at around 8am and rushed to Letsholathebe Memorial Hospital where he was certified dead by doctors. A similar incident was reported in Chanoga just a few months ago where the victim also originated from Zimbabwe. We can however point out that in this recent case, the victim was staying here legally as we managed to recover his legal documents. In the meantime we are still in the process of identifying his family so that he may be repatriated. ”, he said.
However Serumola said there is urgent need for public education so that people may be made aware of the dangers of crossing the Thamalakane River alone, as it is also infested with crocodiles. He said plans are underway to sit for talks with Wildlife officials and other relevant stakeholders, later at which they might consider holding meetings to alert members of the public about the need to always apply necessary preventative measures as well as to learn about animal behaviors.