Cape Town – Rennie Kruger, from Kwazulu-Natal took to social media to reflect and share what happened when a shark bit his hand during work, and thanked everyone who helped him when he got back onto the boat.
Kruger said that he was going to do two dives, the first being a baited dive where the incident happened.
He said that the dive started off well with two bull sharks around the bait ball as he and his colleagues got in the water and moved along after the first 2-4 minutes of the dive.
“It didn’t take me long to get a residential Oceanic Black Tip by the name of Smiley onto the bait ball. As we progressed in the dive around 30-35mins when she decided to come from behind and bit onto my right hand while I had my hand tucked in against my BCD,” Kruger wrote on Facebook.
“As I looked towards my hand inside her mouth I knew exactly what was going to happen and I was proven wrong and didn’t lose my hand, had Alicia Leonhard right beside me after Smiley let go of me and she could attend me immediately once we got onto the boat,” he added.
Kruger was taken into Hibiscus Hospital to the theatre for 5 hours.
“I am still not 100% sure what everything is wrong with my hand but I was told it was a success. Still waiting to see the doctor that worked on my hand to get feedback from him to know what has been done etc.”
“Big Thanks to everyone that was involved helping me on the boat especially David van Vuuren for getting me back to the beach with no time waisted and having the emergency team ready on the ramp,” Kruger added.
“My hand I still do have along with all my fingers, a lot of lacerations on my nerves, tendons and muscle. My pinky finger has been dislocated where it was only still attached by skin. As we know the operation was a big success. Physio to start not too long from now.
“I just can’t wait to get back into the water and carry on doing what I love. But there would be no rush till my hand and the doctor gives approval when I am allowed to dive again.”
Follow African Insider on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Picture: Facebook/ Renier Kruger
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Junaid Benjamin
