Boy stranded in Kruger Park for eight days

Author: admin

26 Aug

Alex Mboweni, 12, astonished rescuers by fending for himself for so long, drinking from waterholes shared by wild animals.

He became separated from his family after they ran from border guards while crossing from their native Mozambique into Limpopo province in north east South Africa.

“I got lost and never thought anyone would find me alive. I did not know where I was or where to go and when the sun went down on the first day I sat next to an anthill to keep warm,” he said.

“I was really scared at night as I heard wild animals making lots of noise. I heard lions roar in the night and other animals making noises. I was very scared.

“I was so glad to see the sun come up and I was thirsty but I couldn’t see any water for the next two days. On the third day I was really weak and I thought I was going to die but I kept walking until I suddenly found the river.

“As I was drinking the water a huge elephant came charging at me so I ran away again. For the next few nights I slept on the anthill and went to the river once in the day to drink some water but I felt myself getting weaker and weaker.”

The boy’s father went to a police station in the border town of Saselamani to say his son was lost in the bush. A search was then mounted by police and the family in the area where he had last been seen. Next >>