A 28‑year‑old man was brutally killed by a crocodile while bathing at a popular lakeshore beach in Homa Bay County, sending shockwaves through the local community and renewing fear over deadly wildlife encounters on the edge of Lake Victoria. The incident occurred on Monday afternoon at Awana Beach in Wagwe North Sub‑location, Karachuonyo Constituency, according to local authorities.
The deceased, identified as Raymond Omondi, had been swimming with friends at the lake’s edge around 3pm when a crocodile suddenly lunged from the water and seized him, dragging him beneath the surface despite frantic attempts by companions and nearby fishermen to pull him to safety.
Assistant Chief George Odhiambo Ondiek described the scene as chaotic, with friends and residents desperately trying to fend off the reptile to free Omondi. Their efforts, however, proved futile as the crocodile vanished into deeper waters with its victim. A coordinated search operation involving residents and local fishermen continued into the evening and resumed at first light on Tuesday to recover his body.
Omondi’s remains were eventually retrieved from the lake and transferred to a nearby mortuary for post‑mortem examination, as distraught relatives and neighbors struggled to come to terms with the sudden and violent loss. The attack has reignited urgent concern about human‑wildlife clashes around the lakeshore, where crocodiles are known to inhabit hidden channels and shallow coves.
Local officials reiterated warnings issued in previous years, urging residents to exercise extreme caution and avoid swimming in unmonitored areas of Lake Victoria, particularly during warmer months when more people enter the water for recreation and daily chores. Past incidents in neighboring counties have also seen fatalities from crocodile attacks along the same stretch of the lake, underscoring persistent danger.
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