HIPPO HORROR ON RIVER

This is sad, i knew Omge as the cool dreaded barman at old bridge backpackers...

Two of four people on a mokoro in the Thamalakane River on Wednesday evening have died after the canoe was attacked by a hippo.

Police scoured the river banks during the night and, on Thursday scuba divers from the Botswana Defence Force began searching for victims

Those on the mokoro were two men and two women, one an American missionary.

They were Sizweni Zhie Mogotsi, of Maun Love Botswana Outreach Mission, Ashley Maldonado, a visiting missionary from the United States, Omogolo Modise, a Professional Guide in Maun, and Ditsotlhe Buddha Gopolang, of the Civil Aviation Authority of Botswana (CAAB).

Search parties were underway immediately by residents and the police. The search went on to 3am on Thursday with the use of flashlights and boats. The four were apparently heading towards the old bridge from near the Sedia Riverside Hotel when the hippo attacked.

Mogotsi and Maldonado managed to reach the riverbank and Modise waved to them to get help before turning back into the water to rescue Gopolang. They both disappeared.

The badly traumatised and injured women were rescued by residents who rushed to the scene. The incident took place at about 7.20pm on Wednesday. It is believed the hippo charged the vessel which broke in two, spilling the occupants into the river. The bodies of Modise and Gopolang were retrieved on Thursday and Jana Lackey, of Love Botswana, told The Ngami Times “we are all thankful that, according to initial findings, there was no indication of a physical encounter with the hippo.” She added: “Ashley and Zhie managed to get to the reeds and pulled themselves onto shore. Omogolo (Omge as he was known) waved for them to go on to the shore and then went to rescue Buddha.” 

According to Lackey, who said she was “very close” to the victims, it appeared that the mokoro trip was already over and they were on their way back to load up another group when the hippo attacked them. “After the hippo hit the canoe there was confusion as water was already inside the mokoro and they then tried to hold on to the pieces,” she said. “As an experienced tour operator and a good swimmer, Modise was the first to reach the shoreline followed by Maldonado. Mogotsi and Gopolang both could not swim and were struggling. “It was then that Modise tried to swim back to get Gopolang. Unfortunately Gopolang was a bit far out and he could not make it, and that is when they both drowned.” 

Families of both victims have been informed and survivors are said to be in a stable condition. The incident was confirmed by Maun Police station commander Joubert Kome. The two people who died were members of the All Nations Village Church and prayers are being held at 5:30pm daily at a family member's house behind the Marcos Caltex filling station on Tsheko Tsheko Road