Crocodile Attack Claims Hwange Woman’s Life After 12-Day Fight for Survival
HWANGE – A woman from Hwange has died from injuries sustained during a crocodile attack, despite her husband’s brave efforts to save her.
Virginia Nyoni (45) a resident of Msuna-Kanjeza village in Hwange District, passed away on 16 May 2025 at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, where she had been receiving specialized treatment.
The attack occurred on 2 May 2025, while Nyoni was collecting water from the Zambezi River, the village’s only water source due to the absence of a borehole.
A crocodile suddenly lunged at her, gripping her leg and attempting to drag her into deeper waters.
In a desperate act of courage, her husband, Oliver Nyoni, who serves as a local village head, jumped into the river unarmed to fight off the reptile and managed to free his wife.
Despite receiving medical attention, Virginia suffered severe injuries, including a mangled thigh and a torn-open hand.
She was first rushed to a local clinic by a safari operator, then transferred to Hwange Colliery Hospital and later moved to Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo for advanced care.
According to Chronicle, doctors had expressed optimism about her recovery, but unfortunately, she did not survive a surgical procedure.
Confirming her passing, area councillor Lethukuthula Ngwenya stated, “We have lost her. She died during a surgical procedure at Mpilo Central Hospital yesterday. It is so tragic, and the whole village is distraught. I last spoke to her on Wednesday, and it all looked so promising.”
Nyoni’s death has sparked concerns about human-wildlife conflict, particularly in areas where communities rely on crocodile-infested rivers for daily water needs.
Experts and local leaders have urged authorities to prioritize safer water access and increased awareness about wildlife dangers.
Virginia leaves behind her grieving husband and six children.
Meanwhile, residents have been advised to exercise extreme caution near water sources, as crocodile attacks remain a recurring threat in Zimbabwe’s riverine communities.
