Living the Best Day Ever

Hendri Coetzee had been a professional kayaker for 15 years but had spent his life venturing into difficult mental and physical territory. He is still regarded as a white-water kayaker legend in his own time and led various expeditions on some of Africa’s wildest rivers. In 2010 he led an expedition of 2 Americans, Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic, what was called the Great Lakes expedition. A tragic accident unfortunately happened on the Lukuga river in the DRC when Hendri was taken from his kayak by a crocodile. This incident got wide public exposure on the American TV and news media when various interviews were held with the 2 very well-known and world-renowned American kayakers who were with him when he was taken. In South Africa, his home country, also various media covered the story. He had also walked 2000km alone and unsupported down the east coast of Africa and completed some of the most demanding and dangerous solo kayaking expeditions ever. He is widely considered as one of the best big water paddlers in the world and the most experienced African river explorer of his generation. He became the first man to lead, navigate and travel the entire length of world’s longest river, the White Nile in 2004. This was also recognised in the Guinness Book of Records in 2013. In 2008 he developed an adventure therapy program for the Norwegian Government and lead a team of youth offenders on expedition to South Sudan. In 2009 he completed a 6 month solo Congo expedition. He received a great number of accolades in his lifetime such as Best Expedition of the Year in 2010 and Adventurer of the Year in 2009 and held an Honours degree in Psychology. He was also an experienced and keen meditator. His expeditions have been covered by such media as CNN, National Geographic, Outside Magazine, Canoe and Kayak, BBC and many more. After his death various local and international newspapers and magazines covered his story. The latest was a Podcast on After Dark. There is a documentary “Africa Croc Attack” on Nat Geo Tv, shown in several countries, about two croc hunters from Australia who went to the DRC to catch the so-called man-eater croc who took Hendri. The two Americans, Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic, who were with him on the fatal expedition were also invited to join the expedition. Ben Stookesberry made a video of the expedition when Hendri was killed, called Kadoma. This has won various accolades one of which was at the Banff and New Zealand Mountain and Film Festivals, and the book also was a finalist in the Banff Adventure category in 2014. His Trust self-printed and shipped his book in 2013 to 7 countries where it was sold and distributed by loyal friends of him. At present 99% of the 3000 hard copy books have been sold and the decision was made to make it available on POD. Hendri is still regarded by many today as being a legend in his own time.