A group of holidaymakers are suing African safari company Sanbona after the Jeep they were travelling in overturned.
The holiday accident which happened in March 2007 resulted in eight Britons suffering personal injury. Safari ranger and driver of the Jeep Natasha van der Merwe is alleged to have driven too close to a pride of lions and reversed up a slope too hastily. The Jeep overturned throwing the passengers from the vehicle.
The holidaymakers are now pursuing personal injury claims for a variety of injuries incurred to include chest injuries, eye injuries, emotional shock, medical expenses and loss of earnings.
The Sanbona Wildlife Reserve, whose head office is in Port Elizabeth, has not responded to the claims made against the company although it has indicated that it will fight the claims.
Court papers claim: ‘As a result of the vehicle overturning and the said plaintiffs being thrown from it, they were injured and they were further exposed to immediate danger posed by wild lions present in the vicinity who approached the plaintiffs and threatened their safety.’
‘The vehicle overturned and the plaintiffs were exposed to the threatening behaviour of the lions as a result of the conduct of Ms van der Merwe who was negligent, grossly negligent.’
The papers added: ‘After the vehicle had overturned, she failed to radio for assistance in a reasonable manner, which caused an undue delay before a rescue party could reach the plaintiffs and which prolonged the threats to the plaintiffs’ safety posed by the lions.’
The case continues.
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