Zim father (45) drowns trying to save son (9) in Botswana

A 45-year-old Zimbabwean drowned at Dikgathong settlement along the Thamalakane River while trying to save his nine-year-old son on Sunday after the boat they were in capsized.

The Botswana Daily News on Tuesday quoted the Maun station commander Superintendent Kenny Badumetse confirming the death of the two from Thito Ward in Maun.

The two were declared dead on arrival at Letsholathebe II Memorial Hospital.

However, Badumetse could not disclose the names of the victims.
He said the two were onboard a motorboat with eight people. Six managed to swim to safety after the boat capsized.

Badumetse said a scuba diving team went into the crocodile-infested river and managed to retrieve the bodies after a three-hour search.
One survivor, Douglas Julius, said the boy's father was driving the boat when it capsized.

He said when the father realised that his son was missing, he immediately dived into the river to try and save him.

Julius said the father went underwater numerous times looking for his son until he too disappeared.

Badumetse said they suspected overloading caused the accident and warned people to take precautions whenever they go fishing and to be wary of crocodiles and hippopotamuses.