A YouTuber dubbed ‘South Africa’s Steve Irwin’ has died following a month-long coma he was placed in due to a deadly encounter with a snake.
Graham ‘Dingo’ Dinkelman was just 44 years old when he died on Saturday (October 26) after falling into anaphylactic shock when he was bitten at his home by a green mamba, one of the world’s most venomous snakes.
Graham ‘Dingo’ Dinkelman has died at the age of 44 following a fatal encounter with a green mamba (Instagram/dingo_dinkelman)
According to The African Snakebite Institute, the reptile ‘rarely accounts for bites in southern Africa, as it lives in thick coastal bush, which it is quick to disappear into’, with ‘most victims are bitten on a hand’ while trying to catch the animal.
Posting on his Instagram on September 30, his wife Kirsty explained: “This last week, Dingo had a venomous snake bite which, unfortunately, due to his allergy to snake venom, sent him straight into anaphylactic shock.”
The conservationist, of Pietermaritzburg in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa, ran specialist breeding programs for endangered species, such as reptiles and amphibians, as well as a wildlife educational facility aimed at children.
Tragically, Dingo left behind his wife and three children, Taylor, Maddy, and Rex.
Speaking to South African outlet IOL, Kirsty said: “His love for all animals was legendary, with videos of handling crocodiles, snakes, and a variety of African wildlife propelling him to internet fame.
“Our three children, Taylor, Maddy, and Rex, were central to Dingo, and he never missed an opportunity to express his love and pride for his family. Working together, we recently started a new YouTube channel, ‘The Dinkelmans’, which focuses on wholesome family content, animal adventures, and conservation.
“His presence has brought so much warmth, love, passion, and laughter to our lives, as well as all of those who knew him, loved him and supported him. We love you Dingo and we will always celebrate your incredible impact on each of our lives.”
In 2017, the content creator first reached a global audience after a series of YouTube videos of his encounters with South African wildlife saw him win the ‘#BreakTheNet’ competition held by Cell C and Blink Pictures.
Dingo was likened to legendary Aussie conservationist Steve Irwin (Instagram/dingo_dinkelman)
His enthusiasm for his job and how he presented his shows drew comparison to the late Australian conservationist Steve Irwin – who also died at the age of 44, when he was struck by a stingray while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef back in 2006.
Speaking per The Telegraph, Dingo said in an interview last year: “My passion, my calling, the reason I have been put on the face of this earth, is to get animals into people’s lives.
“I’ve always believed that we need to convert the unconverted, to reach people who’ve had absolutely no experience with nature and wildlife, who are scared of snakes and afraid of getting dirty, and to get them passionate about conservation.
“We can achieve this goal by sharing the right content on these social media platforms.”
