Toddler killed, mother injured after giraffe attack in northern KZN

A toddler has died and her mother badly injured after they were attacked by an adult giraffe at a game lodge in the Hluhluwe area in northern KwaZulu-Natal yesterday afternoon, October 19.

Netcare 911 spokesperson, Shawn Herbst, said that the 16-month-old child was rushed to a local doctor's office but was pronounced dead on arrival. When a team of operational paramedics arrived at the scene they found the 25-year-old mother in a critical condition.

"The mother was treated on scene, however, due to the nature of the patient’s injuries and distance to an appropriate hospital, a decision was made to activate the Netcare 911 Helicopter Air Ambulance to fly the patient to a specialist facility," Herbst said. 

Circumstances leading up to the incident will be investigated by the police who were on scene.

Source: Netcare 911 media statement