I have been holding off posting about Hendrik Coetzee for awhile now. Much like Tim Hetherington, Coetzee's death impacted me more than I expected it would and I didn't feel I had the time to try to decode it. Here's my best shot:
In late 2010, Hendrik Coetzee and American professional kayakers Ben Stookesberry, and Chris Korbulic traveled to the Democratic Republic of Kongo to make a first descent of the Lukuga River. For a couple month's the team posted regularly to their First Ascent blog, which I followed closely. I had visited Africa a few years ago and never imagined paddling the rivers and lakes that are ever present in the Sub-Saharan portion of the content. I am by no means an excellent paddler but Coetzee, Stookesbery, and Krobulic's trip in effect opened up a new world of exploration for me and many others.
In December of 2010 after navigating a series of rapids on the Lukuga, Hendri Coetzee disappeared when a crocodile surfaced besides his kayak and pulled him under. His body was never found.
After Hendri's death adventure magazines and blogs published a number of articles on the tragedy, the most prominent being "Consumed" from Outside Magazine's March 2011 Issue. There are a number of quotes in that article and in subsequent interviews with Korbulic and Stookesberry that struck a nerve, but for me the most memorable are from Korbulic and Coetzee prior to his death.
Coetzee: "I need to believe that there is more to this world than what we know. I need to believe there is magic out there. I cannot believe these things blindly, though, and maybe that is why I had to do this mission—to prove to myself that we can do things which are bigger than ourselves. I needed to walk through a minefield to feel protected . . . The adventure is sometimes a terrifying thing to love, but when you do, there’s nothing that can replace it or push it out of your head. It’s the best remedy, inspiration, stimulation, and challenge that moves me towards learning the most about myself and the world."
Korbulic: "It is a passion, and a life without it holds no appeal. I saw and heard that from Hendri the very first days I knew him, and it was reinforced every day until the last. This mentality kept Hendri going and it will keep me moving forward, hopefully to share and inspire with his story."
Korbulic and Coetzee's words capture so much of why I love the outdoors and why I have the passions that I have. To hear of and follow the exploits of someone who shared my passions and to subsequently follow as that passion led Coetzee to his death gave me a new understanding of adventure. I will likely never do anything on par with the Coetzee's first descents but his death made me realize that nothing is without risk or consequence.
I share this story and it's impact because of the trailer below. At Telluride, Colorado's MountainFilm Festival this weekend, Stookesberry and Korbulic will premiere there documentary "Kadoma" and a collection of photographs, both chronicling their trip and the last moments of Hendri Coetzee's life.
I've added the tag "Heroes" to this post and the one announcing Tim Hetherington's death. I'll continue to use it for adventurers, living and dead, that relentlessly follow their passion to wherever it takes them.
