Former Zimbabwe all-rounder Guy Whittall was hospitalised after sustaining injuries in a deadly leopard attack while he was trekking in the conservancy that he owns in the Humani region.
Whittall, who represented Zimbabwe in 46 Tests and 147 ODIs between 1993 and 2003, underwent an emergency surgery at Milton Park Hospital, Harare, after he was attacked by the predator.
It was further added in the reports that the 51-year-old was accompanied by his loyal dog named Chikara, who also got a bit injured while trying to save him.
The incident took place after almost 11 years when Whittall woke up with an eight-foot and 165kg Nile crocodile sleeping right under his bed.
Hannah Stooks-Whittall, the wife of the former cricketer, confirmed the incident in a Facebook post which contained the pictures of the 51-year-old covered in blood after the attack.
"We are very fortunate that he was stabilised at Hippo Clinic by wonderful staff. He was then Airlifted from Buffalo Range by Ace Ambulance to Harare, then transferred to Milton Park Hospital for treatment," she wrote.
“We are very fortunate that he was stabilised at Hippo Clinic by wonderful staff. He was then airlifted from Buffalo Range by Ace Ambulance to Harare, then transferred to Milton Park Hospital for treatment,” she wrote.
She also added that he lost a lot of blood but it could’ve been far worse if it wasn’t for his faithful who tried to save him to his best.
"Chikara [is] coming up tomorrow to the vet after being mauled by the leopard and getting the cat off Guy!" she wrote.
"Guy and I are overwhelmed by the hundreds of messages of well-wishers after Guy's run-in with a wounded leopard earlier today," she added.
Whittall’s most memorable moment as a cricketer came in 1995 when he scored a century to help Zimbabwe register their first-ever victory against Pakistan at Harare.
However, in the same Test, his remarkable innings were overshadowed by the heroics of Grant Flower, unbeaten 201 runs, and Andy Flower, 156 runs, as the home side went on to win the match by an innings and 64 runs.