{"id":3375,"date":"2026-05-25T06:12:48","date_gmt":"2026-05-25T06:12:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/tourists-stabbed-to-death-at-holiday-hotspot-and-left-in-croc-infested-river\/"},"modified":"2026-05-25T06:12:48","modified_gmt":"2026-05-25T06:12:48","slug":"tourists-stabbed-to-death-at-holiday-hotspot-and-left-in-croc-infested-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/tourists-stabbed-to-death-at-holiday-hotspot-and-left-in-croc-infested-river\/","title":{"rendered":"Tourists stabbed to death at holiday hotspot and &#8216;left in croc-infested river&#8217;"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"article-body\">\n<h2 class=\"LeadText_lead-text__wd_PA __className_1c1e1b\" data-testid=\"leadtext\">The couple in their 70s were visiting a famous game reserve when they were killed &#8211; police believe they ran into poachers who killed them and dumped their bodies in a crocodile-infested river<\/h2>\n<p><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX ImageEmbed_image-lead__Ti3qQ\" data-testid=\"leadimage\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37200858\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Crocodiles at Kruger National Park on February 15, 2026\" loading=\"eager\" sizes=\"(max-width: 508px) 508px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200858.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_gettyimages-2263018819-612x612.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200858.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s508\/0_gettyimages-2263018819-612x612.jpg 508w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200858.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615\/0_gettyimages-2263018819-612x612.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200858.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200f\/0_gettyimages-2263018819-612x612.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Crocodiles at Kruger National Park on February 15, 2026\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Crocodiles at Kruger National Park on February 15, 2026<cite aria-label=\"Image: Patrick van Katwijk\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Patrick van Katwijk\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A manhunt is underway after two tourists were stabbed to death and their bodied dumped in crocodile-infested waters.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Ernst Marais, 71, and his wife Dina, 73, were <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"visiting the Kruger National Park Link opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/lifestyle\/travel\/went-safari-african-country-cheaper-36816568\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">visiting the Kruger National Park <\/a>in north-eastern South Africa when it is believed they <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"ran into poachersLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/five-cruel-poachers-slaughter-tiger-29405743\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">ran into poachers<\/a> at an elephant crossing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The retired couple were visiting from their coastal home about 1100 miles (roughly 1800kms) away. They were <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"staying near the reserve's Parfuri GateLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/uk-news\/four-lions-escape-kruger-national-10769453\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">staying near the reserve&#8217;s Parfuri Gate<\/a> in the north of the game park and worry grew when they failed to return to their accommodation on the night of Wednesday, May 20.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-grouped\">\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_container__i0sRj\" data-testid=\"portrait-image-group\">\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_image-group-item__XHC82\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37200855\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37200855\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2\/3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Ernst Marais, 71, was stabbed to death\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200855.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_0c12a32d9cd8e711dd6300288968b1fa.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200855.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_0c12a32d9cd8e711dd6300288968b1fa.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200855.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_0c12a32d9cd8e711dd6300288968b1fa.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200855.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_0c12a32d9cd8e711dd6300288968b1fa.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Ernst Marais, 71, was stabbed to death\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Ernst Marais, 71, was stabbed to death<cite aria-label=\"Image: Supplied\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Supplied)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<div class=\"ImageGroupEmbed_image-group-item__XHC82\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37200851\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37200851\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:2\/3\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Dina Marais, 73, was stabbed to death\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200851.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_cdb2f9b3f95068b926ce225d762e02d0.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200851.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_cdb2f9b3f95068b926ce225d762e02d0.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200851.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_cdb2f9b3f95068b926ce225d762e02d0.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200851.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_cdb2f9b3f95068b926ce225d762e02d0.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Dina Marais, 73, was stabbed to death\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Dina Marais, 73, was stabbed to death<cite aria-label=\"Image: Supplied\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Supplied)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Kruger National Park game reserve is a wildly popular tourist spot for both South Africans and international visitors.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Some one million tourists visit the park annually, many of them British, American and German, hoping to spot the country&#8217;s big five: lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros and buffalos.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The couple&#8217;s bodies were found by a group of tourists, who were viewing a herd of elephants crossing at viewing spot. Their bodies were floating in the river.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Crook&#8217;s Corner got its name in the 1880s as a small area of &#8220;no man&#8217;s land&#8221; where South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique meet at the confluence of the rivers Limpopo and Luvhuvhu. The small triangle of land was known as a hideout for ivory poachers, gun runners, slave traders and murderers and was avoided as a danger spot for the law.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37200843\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37200843\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Crooks Corner in the Kruger National Park at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers and the meeting point of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique (file image)\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200843.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_gettyimages-2223093445-612x612.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200843.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_gettyimages-2223093445-612x612.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200843.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_gettyimages-2223093445-612x612.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200843.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_gettyimages-2223093445-612x612.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"Crooks Corner in the Kruger National Park at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers and the meeting point of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique (file image)\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Crooks Corner in the Kruger National Park at the confluence of the Limpopo and Luvuvhu Rivers and the meeting point of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique (file image)<cite aria-label=\"Image: Neil Aldridge\/Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Neil Aldridge\/Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">It is believed that Ernst and Dina&#8217;s hands had been tied behind their backs and they had been repeatedly stabbed in the upper body before being dragged to the Limpopo River. The river, nicknamed the &#8220;Crocodile River,&#8221; is heavily infested with the giant beasts.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">South African National Park game rangers and police were called to the scene.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Authorities had already been looking for the couple since they were reported missing on Thursday morning.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A Kruger National Park source said: &#8220;It was hoped that they had gone off road and broken down after heavy local floods somewhere but then we got a call to say two bodies had been found.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;They were in the river at Crook\u2019s Corner which has a bit of a notorious reputation and when our rangers got to the scene they pulled the two bodies up onto the riverbank to wait for police.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;Both had been stabbed in what was clearly a very brutal attack and had been thrown into the river no doubt for the crocs and their 4&#215;4 had been stolen so this is a very major incident for us.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;We have never had an incident like this in the history of the Kruger and we are praying that this does not cause a major tourist knee- jerk reaction who decide it is no longer a safe place for them to visit.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;This is an extremely safe national park and this has shocked us all,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<div data-testid=\"image-group\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"SlideViewerButton_slide-viewer-button__BDJoG\" aria-label=\"Open image viewer\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\" aria-controls=\"image-lightbox\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-embed__0T8WX false\" data-testid=\"imageembed-37200844\" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-articleid=\"37200844\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"image\">\n<div class=\"ImageEmbed_image-container__2AIQm\">\n<figure class=\"Figure_figure__Uce4f\" style=\"--figure-aspect-ratio:1.5\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"People watch an elephant in the Kruger National Park (file image)\" loading=\"lazy\" sizes=\"(max-width: 458px) 458px, (max-width: 615px) 615px, 1200px\" src=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200844.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_gettyimages-2197069258-612x612.jpg\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200844.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s458b\/0_gettyimages-2197069258-612x612.jpg 458w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200844.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s615b\/0_gettyimages-2197069258-612x612.jpg 615w, https:\/\/i2-prod.mirror.co.uk\/article37200844.ece\/ALTERNATES\/s1200e\/0_gettyimages-2197069258-612x612.jpg 1200w\"\/><\/figure>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"ImageCaption_caption__j7HRu\" data-testid=\"image-caption\">\n<p aria-label=\"People watch an elephant in the Kruger National Park (file image)\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">People watch an elephant in the Kruger National Park (file image)<cite aria-label=\"Image: Oisin Keniry\/R&amp;A\/R&amp;A via Getty Images\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-credit__wlx1W\" data-testid=\"caption-credit\">(Image: Oisin Keniry\/R&amp;A\/R&amp;A via Getty Images)<\/cite><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<p><\/button><\/div>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Police are investigating two counts of murder and one of hijacking. No arrests have been made.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A South African police source said he suspects the couple may have unexpectedly run into a gang of poachers who killed them to prevent them raising the alarm.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">South Africa is home to the largest rhino population in the <a target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/\" rel=\"follow\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"\">world<\/a> and a hotspot for poaching the animal for its keratin-rich horn.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Despite efforts by authorities, in which their lives are regularly risked, poaching remains a major issued<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Data from South Africa&#8217;s Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment showed 352 rhinos were poached in the country from January to December 2025.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The police source said: &#8220;Their pick-up truck would have been an easy way to transport anything they were carrying if they were smugglers and there are unfenced ways to get across the river into Mozambique.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;A large manhunt is underway focusing on the assumption they are already out of the Kruger.&#8221;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mirror.co.uk\/news\/world-news\/tourist-stabbed-death-crocodile-river-37200838\" target=\"_blank\">Source link<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The couple in their 70s were visiting a famous game reserve when they were killed<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3376,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-crime"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_gettyimages-2263018819-612x612.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3375","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3375"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3375\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/login9ja.com\/global\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}