Mark Montgomery barely had time to swear. A split second after spotting a giant crocodile in the river, he was in its jaws and underwater.
“It was so quick, so quick — I didn’t even see it come out of the water,” the veteran wildlife guide said of the incident in Kruger National Park (KNP). “I could feel it was swimming away with me.”
Fortunately for Montgomery, and his shocked hiking group, his survival instinct kicked in. He used a free hand to grab at the croc's eye and ear area, and kicked against the riverbed to avoid a “death roll” — a crocodile’s method of drowning prey.
“I said to myself there is no way this crocodile is killing me today, I’m getting out of this thing. I didn’t want him to take me to the bottom ...
“Something happened that I got him to leave me by whatever I was doing with my left hand.”
Realising his arm was free, he lunged onto a partly submerged tree and got to the opposite bank, all the while worrying the creature would return. Witnesses said the reptile, about 3.5m long, did not reappear after releasing him.
I saw this massive head fly out of the water. It was probably about 50cm from my head. It was huge. It just smashed him
— Wayne Stocks, Kruger Trail participant who witnessed the encounter
Montgomery limped back to the hiking group who were escorted by a nearby anti-poaching team to Skukuza camp, where he was met by an ambulance and taken to Mbombela (Nelspruit). He was treated for deep hand and forearm cuts, fractured fingers and partially torn hamstrings. He insisted the hiking party continue with another ranger.
“Thousands of thoughts go through your head so quickly,” said Montgomery of the near-death experience. “You get through stuff and you work through encounters you’ve had before — experience helped me keep my head.”
For Wayne Stocks, the drama was a lot more than he anticipated when joining old university friends on a guided hike on the Kruger Trail, spanning the length of the park. Stocks was crouching at Montgomery’s shoulder when the croc struck.
“He was scooping water and passing it to me. I was putting it on the bank,” said Stocks. “He took his third scoop of water and before the words came out of his mouth, he was trying to shout and just said: ‘Oh s**t’. I saw this massive head fly out of the water. It was probably about 50cm from my head. It was huge. It just smashed him.”
Stocks instinctively jumped into the river but could not reach Montgomery and decided to get out rather than become another victim. “I just thought of my wife and kids.”
Montgomery and the reptile re-emerged. “I could see [his] whole body being dragged, with his head closer to the surface — it looked like he was holding onto the back of a boat.
"Then he disappeared again, then a couple of seconds later he popped up about a metre or two from the other bank. He was obviously fighting the crocodile.”
Stocks believes Montgomery survived because he fought so hard and was able to climb out via the tree stump.
“If the croc had gone up the river or dragged him 2m to either side then I think there is no way he would have survived.”
Stocks praised his fighting spirit: “If the croc had grabbed down I am not sure I would have survived. The guy was fierce.”
The hike continued the next day, without Montgomery, and featured some other hair-raising encounters. “The next night we had a pride of lion around our tents for seven hours,” said Stocks.
KNP spokesperson Isaac Phaahla said: “SANParks is relieved the guide did not sustain life-threatening injuries and received timely help from colleagues nearby.
“The bush is a very intriguing and surprising place, and the incident indicates that regardless of how many times you have been a guide, respect your territory and be extra cautious as wild animals call this place their home.”
The Kruger Trail is an epic six-leg 650km hike held over three years, with two six-day legs per year. Only a limited number of hikers are allowed each year after bidding at an annual SANParks auction for places. , Revenue generated is ring-fenced for conservation projects inside the park.
Montgomery is a SANParks honorary ranger for the Kruger Trail, and was the lead guide for the Stellenbosch group, who were on the penultimate leg of their wildlife odyssey.
Montgomery’s friends have started a BackaBuddy campaign to raise funds for his rehabilitation — his hand will require extensive treatment.
Many donors have posted comments about the ordeal.
“Crazy story Mark, glad you’re OK,” said Evan Litis.
“An inspiring story of survival — I think your experience and cool head saved you,” said Jose.
Montgomery insists the ordeal has not affected his wildlife addiction, and he intends returning to the site of the attack: “I am definitely going to back because my cellphone is still in the water.”
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.