By Hezron Ochiel
Kisumu, Kenya: Two people are nursing injuries in hospital after they were attacked by a crocodile in Nyamaruaka beach in Lake Victoria.
The two, Vincent Owino (19) and Jackson Juma (17) were on a fishing expedition when the incident occurred.
Owino said the crocodile attacked them shortly after 7am on Wednesday when they had stopped at the shore to collect their fishing net.
‘‘The animal suddenly crushed on our boat and caught Juma’s hand. I then struggled with it unfortunately, it caught my hand and left my friend,’’ said Vincent.
The struggle that lasted more than an hour came to a close after the two were overwhelmed by the irate animal, forcing Juma to run to the neighbouring shore to collect a machete.
‘‘When I came, I found my friend clinging on the boat as the animal struggled to drag him into the lake,’’ said Juma.
And after a few minutes, the two managed to repulse the animal after cutting it severally on the neck.
David Oloo, an eye witness, who took the two to Kombewa District Hospital said they were alarmed when the animal attacked his colleagues.
‘‘I was on my way to the shore when I received a phone call that my colleagues were being attacked,’’ said Oloo.
When Oloo arrived, he found the two had managed to fight their way out and he rushed them to Kombewa District hospital.
Kombewa Medical Superintendent Kennedy Hongo said the two sustained severe injuries with fractured limbs.
Hongo added that injured fishermen were referred to Nyanza Provincial Hospital in Kisumu for specialised treatment.
