A crocodile at the Kruger National Park killed on Wednesday a 29-year-old South African golfer who just attempted to retrieve a golf ball in the lake. The reptile dragged Jacque van der Sandt and killed him.

The incident happened at the Lake Panic Dam's golf course area where van de Sandt, a deep sea diver from Skukuza, and his friend identified only as Jason, were playing golf, reports Traveller24news.

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Don English, the regional ranger, received a call at 8 p.m. that the crocodile snatched a man and he disappeared under water. The park's game rangers saw the crocodile at 4 a.m. of Thursday morning and shot the animal. However, when they opened up the reptile, the golfer's corpse was not inside.

Van de Sandt was eventually found dead with tooth marks on his front and back. He is the son of a park employee and grew up in the area. He and Jason were engaged in a friendly challenge who could get the most number of golf balls from Lake Panic, according to police officer Oubaas Coetzer.

His father, Schalk, had retired, while his mother, Lorretha, is still employed at the park where Jacque had seen many crocodiles in the past.

Commenting on the incident, Dr. Danny Govender, disease ecologist at the South African National Parks, released a statement explaining that the crocodiles have just emerged from hibernation.

"The animal was doing what naturally comes to them, hunting for food and unfortunately a life was lost in the process," Govender added.

Dr. Freek Venter, general manager for conservation management of the park, sent his condolences to the family and friends of the victim and ordered an investigation. The victim planned to marry his girlfriend, Suzelle Wilson, until the crocodile tragedy took his life.

Tagscrocodile, Hibernation, crocodile kills golfer, golfer, Kruger National Park, South Africa, Jacque van der Sandt