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'Miracle' as toddler is found
04/07/2006 08:40 - (SA)
Norman Silke, Die Burger Port Elizabeth - It sounds like a modern-day take on the Bible story Daniel in the Lions Den, when a toddler went missing in an Eastern Cape game reserve and spent the night surrounded by lions and hyenas. He was later found safe and sound, just hungry and thirsty. The nightmare started when three-year-old Wanki Sizela's went to visit his aunt on the farm Leeuwenbosch, which is part of the Amakhala game reserve near Paterson. Wanki's aunt worked in one of the kitchens on the reserve and she took him with her. Wanki then probably wandered off and about 16:00 on Saturday afternoon, his aunt realised he was missing. Lots of hyenas Heidi Fowlds, daughter-in-law of owner Bill Fowlds, said "They contacted my father-in-law and the rangers on the reserve started looking for the boy." The next morning, following a search that continued throughout the night, the police's dog unit in Port Alfred was asked to help. Paterson Police officials joined the search only on Sunday morning, even though they were contacted in connection with the toddler's disappearance the previous afternoon. Fowlds said even the overseas guests at the reserve became worried and everyone was very relieved when rangers found him at a watering hole about 12:00, which thirsty animals frequent nearly every morning. "There was nothing the matter with him, but he was very thirsty and drank two bottles of water and ate a lot of bread. "Luckily he was wearing good clothes, but he took off his shoes to keep his hands warm," Fowlds explained. Captain Mali Govender said Wanki was found about 8km from where he went missing. Govender declined to comment why the police only started looking for the toddler on Sunday, but did say any irregular actions from the police would be investigated. Fowlds described Wanki's adventure as a miracle because the search party managed to find a small boy in a 6 500 ha reserve. "Rangers said they searched the area close to the watering hole the previous evening and in particular saw a lot of hyenas, Fowlds said. Wanki has meanwhile returned to his parents' home in Hankey and is probably unaware of the dangers he faced. |
