Tulani Ngwenya
Harare, Zimbabwe – Guy Whittall, a former Zimbabwe cricketer, has once again defied the odds by surviving a harrowing encounter with a leopard, years after narrowly escaping a close encounter with a crocodile.
Whittall, renowned for his unbeaten 1997 double century of 203 not out against New Zealand, found himself in a life-threatening situation while trekking through the conservancy he manages at Humani, Zimbabwe. Accompanied by his loyal dog Chikara, Whittall was mauled by the leopard, resulting in severe injuries that required emergency surgery.
Images shared on social media by Whittall’s wife, Hannah Stooks-Whittall, depicted the dramatic aftermath of the attack. Medical personnel attended to Whittall in the bush before he was airlifted to Milton Park Hospital in Harare. Stooks-Whittall pointed out the bravery of Chikara, who intervened to protect Whittall from further harm.
“He really is one lucky man,” Stooks-Whittall said. “First, he had the crocodile incident, and now the leopard. He truly is the cat with nine lives. We owe Chikara a debt of gratitude for his bravery.”
Whittall, who sustained significant injuries and lost a substantial amount of blood, underwent successful surgery. Despite his ordeal, he remained in good spirits, jokingly recounting his encounter with the leopard.
Image: Accompanied by his loyal dog Chikara, Whittall was mauled by the leopard, resulting in severe injuries that required emergency surgery.
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This is not the first time Whittall has faced danger from wild animals. In 2013, he made headlines when a 300lbs crocodile was discovered under his bed, unbeknownst to him as he slept. The crocodile, a Nile species, managed to evade detection for an entire night before being safely removed.
Reflecting on the incident, Whittall remarked, “Catching and securing a croc of any size on land is a fairly straightforward affair, although there’s always the risk of being bitten. I just remember thinking, ‘goodness gracious, that’s one for the books.'”
Whittall’s remarkable survival stories serve as a testament to his resilience in the face of adversity, and his encounters with wildlife continue to capture the imagination of many.
