A drunken tourist who jumped into a crocodile pool after downing drinks with his pals had an arm ripped off and his head torn from side to side in another crocodile’s jaws.
Incredibly, he escaped with his life after the three crocodiles released him to fight over his torn off arm allowing a worker and another man to drag the tourist to safety.
The Zimbabwe Chronicle reported that the drama happened when the group reached a brewery situated right next to a crocodile cage diving company for tourists.
A drunken tourist who jumped into a crocodile pool after downing drinks with his pals had an arm ripped off and his head torn from side to side in another crocodile’s jaws
Eyewitnesses said Mr Miller, reputedly the worse for wear, inexplicably went into the brewery kitchen and jumped out a window and into the crocodile farm next door.
Even though in a clearly marked and restricted area, he then climbed over a fence and jumped into the pool of an attraction that allows tourists to dive with Nile crocodiles.
Three crocodiles were said to have been basking in the pool at the time when the wedding guest is said to have taken off his shirt and jumped in with the scaly beasts.
Terrified onlookers said the crocodiles went into a feeding frenzy with one reptile ripping off Collin’s arm and another clamping its jaws around his head and shaking.
Fortunately for him the crocodile that had his head was said to have let go and chased after the crocodile with Collin’s arm allowing two brave rescuers to grab him.
They pulled the blood soaked man from the water and over the fence to safety while the three crocodiles said to be up to three metres long fought over his missing arm.
Collin Miller, 21, had inexplicably decided to break into crocodile cage diving attraction (above) at Victoria Falls along the Zimbabwe-South Africa border, whilst out drinking
Miller, of Lusaka, Zambia, had gone to Victoria Falls a few days before a friends’ wedding and had gone out drinking locally, according to local reports.
A witness said: ‘Mr Miller lost his left arm and sustained fractured ribs and injuries to his head and was stabilised and immediately airlifted to South Africa’.
He said to be stable in an unnamed private health facility over the border and the wedding went ahead without him two days later as planned at Victoria Falls.
Mr Miller’s bizarre decision to swim with the maneaters happened at 9pm last Thursday after his group entered the Victoria Falls River Brewing Company for a drink.
The company’s director Mr Mike Danes declined to talk about the incident but referred the press to a statement which chronicled how the incident happened.
However the company stressed although Mr Miller exited their property via a kitchen window, they do not keep crocodiles, and the croc pool was next door.
It read: ‘On Thursday evening a member of the public deliberately climbed over a protective fence and entered the crocodile pool which houses three crocodiles.
‘He deliberately put his life in extreme danger and was rescued by incredible efforts of two very brave men including an employee of the Crocodile Cage Diving Company.
‘He sustained several injuries including loss of arm.
‘The River Brewing Company wishes him a very speedy recovery and we are grateful to the quick thinking and bravery of his rescuers in saving him’.
The Victoria Falls River Brewing Company manufactures many different kinds of beer and also operates a restaurant on the same premises at Busy Island
Mr Miller, of Lusaka, Zambia, had been booked in to stay a local lodge ahead of the wedding ceremony and is said to have gone on a drinking spree with friends.
He allegedly entered the restaurant kitchen without the knowledge of staff and climbed through a window and over a fence leading to the crocodile pool next door.
An eye witness said:’We were shocked when he just stormed into the kitchen despite a sign prohibiting members of the public and exited the window.
‘He jumped into the pool and the crocodiles immediately pounced on him. ‘He is lucky because alert guests quickly followed and rescued him but one of the crocs had already cut off his arm.
‘The other crocodile nearly crushed his head but it turned away to chase after the one with the arm and that’s how he was rescued’. Miller was rushed to Chinotimba Medical Centre before being airlifted to South Africa for further treatment.
Hwange District Medical Officer Dr Wisdom Kurauone confirmed the incident. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority (Zimparks) public relations manager described the incident as ‘unfortunate’.
They said: ‘We urge all foreign tourists to avoid taking unnecessary risks when dealing with animals.’
