A woman got married to the love of her life, days after a canoeing accident which would have cost her her life.

Former national tennis player, Zanele Ndlovu was enjoying a day out with her British boyfriend, Jamie Fox when tragedy struck. They were canoeing in the Zambezi River above the Victoria Falls when a giant crocodile struck from below.

Zanele was attacked in the inflatable canoe and had her right arm torn off and her left hand bitten. Jamie was quick to rescue her but she was losing so much blood it was feared she may die from the wound.

Jamie applied a makeshift tourniquet to stop the bleeding, then she was rushed to the hospital where surgeons managed to save her life but she lost most of her right arm.

A family friend recounted the incident, saying: “During the attack, the crocodile gripped her arm and ripped it off while her partner made frantic efforts to save her. They are lucky to be alive though.

The boats used in that activity are inflated and the crocodile attacked their vessel and in the process deflated it before attacking her.”

In spite of the near-death experience, the couple tied the knot days later in an emotional ceremony. Zanele was determined not to shift her wedding date, so she was allowed to use the hospital chapel to get married. They got married on Sunday at the Mater Dei Hospital in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.