As nearly one ton of giraffe came charging towards Nicole Panos and her young children, she knew outrunning the massive animal would be impossible.
Much like the giraffe protecting her calf, Nicole’s maternal instinct kicked in. She cradled one-year-old Kaia in her arms and urgently instructed four-year-old Kayden to run for safety. Tragically, only two of them survived the ordeal.
At the age of 25, Nicole was left paralyzed from the waist down while attempting to protect Kaia and Kayden from the charging giraffe at Kuleni Game Park in South Africa, during October 2023.
Despite enduring skull fractures, Kayden survived by curling up in the sand to protect himself from the giraffe, presumed to be defending its calf.
Tragically, one-year-old Kaia, who Nicole was holding in her arms, died after suffering a traumatic head injury.
The devastated mother shared with The Sun that the horrific incident continues to haunt her, and while fighting back tears, she expressed: “My world completely shattered the day Kaia died.”
“On one level, I feel betrayed by our safe space and confused; we didn’t behave in a threatening manner to the giraffe.
“But as a mother, I understand the instinct that kicks in to protect your children.
“My last thought before she charged at us was that of worry, ‘Where is her baby?’, but she took mine from me.”
‘She came straight at us’
Nicole and her husband, Jason, resided with their children at their family-owned business—a luxury game park attracting visitors worldwide to its lodges.
She worked in the family nature training business as a marine facilitator, a student mentor and was an aspiring birth doula, and lived a short walk away from her family, who also lived on-site.
Nicole was due to meet a student in the afternoon and had arranged for the children to stay with their grandparents for a few hours.
She said: “It was just one of those lazy mornings, we all played together and then they napped at lunchtime. I lay with the children.
“We left our house to walk the short distance to my parents’ home. We walked through the bush thicket and then across a sandy clearing, where the children used to love to play.
“I saw a male and female giraffe in the distance; I knew she had recently had a calf, but I couldn’t see it with her.
“She watched us, but she’s quite curious, so it wasn’t out of character, and we weren’t close to them. I saw her turn away and walk in the opposite direction. I remember thinking it was weird that the calf wasn’t there.
“I was carrying Kaia in my arms, and Kayden was walking ahead of me.
“Suddenly, I heard this noise behind us and I turned around – and I saw her coming at us.”
My instinct to protect my children took over and I screamed at Kayden to run
Nicole Panos
Nicole describes the horrifying moment the giraffe charged the family, knowing it would be impossible to outrun the angry beast.
She said: “Her head was down, she was coming straight at us, running really fast.
“I have always been taught to stand your ground with any animal charging at you to try to dominate the situation.
“But she was charging at my children; they couldn’t defend themselves. I had Kaia in my arms, and she couldn’t run away. My instinct to protect my children took over, and I screamed at Kayden to run.
“I felt a thump on my back and I blacked out. I don’t remember being kicked by her.
“I had Kaia in my arms. I woke up and heard Kayden screaming, I was trying to keep my body on top of Kaia to keep her safe.
“The giraffe was moving towards Kayden.”
The mum watched helplessly as the giraffe made its way towards her four-year-old son, who had curled himself up in the sand to protect himself.
She added: “His body looked so small – I desperately wanted to get to him but I couldn’t move.
“The giraffe moved back to me and I blacked out. When I woke up my mum was sitting next to me and holding Kaia.
“I saw Kaia’s chest move up and down, I heard Kayden screaming, I remember thinking: ‘They’re both alive’ and I passed out again.”
‘Survival mode’
Nicole later learned that her brother had heard her screams for help and had fired a gun into the sand to scare the giraffe off.
Paramedics and family rushed both children for urgent medical care, but Nicole’s spinal injuries meant she would have to wait four hours before a helicopter could airlift her to hospital.
Nicole’s cousin went to the hospital with Kayden, and her father rushed to meet Kaia and her aunt at the local doctor, where she tragically took her last breath, while her grandfather held her in his arms.
The mum-of-two said that her loved ones struggled to break the soul-destroying news to her that Kaia had passed.
Nicole said: “I kept asking for news about the children, and everyone kept telling me that Kayden was alright.
“I was flown to the hospital in Durban, and my parents drove to meet me there.
“I asked them, ‘What about Kaia?’ and they said they would tell me as soon as they knew anything when I was out of surgery, but I just knew in that moment that she was gone.
“I asked them to tell me the truth, and we all broke down.
“From that point, I have been in survival mode, and I probably will be for the rest of my life.”
Telling Kayden was almost as devastating as the moment I found out. It has hit him so hard. The two of them were so close
Nicole Panos
Not only have Nicole and Jason struggled to come to terms with Kaia’s death, but her older brother was hit hard by the tragic events.
Nicole says: “Telling Kayden was almost as devastating as the moment I found out. It has hit him so hard. The two of them were so close.
“They never squabbled; they adored each other. Kaia would copy everything that Kayden did, and he would go and greet her every morning with this huge hug.
“We encourage him to talk about her all the time. We all talk about her a lot.
“We remember the dance parties we would have in the kitchen and the delight she took feeding the guinea fowl – which she called cluck clucks – with her grandad.”
Nicole spent 23 days in hospital, including 16 days in intensive care, and faced months of rehab.
As well as being left paralysed, she suffered multiple fractured ribs and damage to her internal organs.
Her husband, Jason, was working in the US at the time of the accident. The family had hoped that by Jason working abroad for a six-month period, they would have enough finances to be able to both spend more time with their family.
Nicole says: “We felt as though we were on the edge of something wonderful about to happen to our family. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
“We have decided to rename the forest in the park Kaia’s forest. It didn’t feel right to give her a tombstone; we wanted a memorial to her that is living.
“She should be remembered as she was in life.
“Even though she was only on this earth for 15 months, she brightened so many people’s lives, and we believe that what she brought to this world needs to be seen and celebrated.”
The family are now trying to rebuild their lives – and making plans to ensure Kaia is not forgotten.
Nicole added: “She was the most wonderful, funny, beautiful soul, who loved everything and everyone. She loved life.
“She felt, and still feels, like sunshine. She radiated happiness.
“I am overwhelmed that I was afforded the privilege of being her mother, and I take comfort from knowing that I got to share every single day of her short time on this planet.
“I am trying to live the way Kaia did, full of love, but it is hard some days.
“I have understanding, but I don’t know if I will ever be able to make peace with what happened.”
“There are days when I feel as though the pain is so heavy I can barely make it through the day. Kayden and Kaia’s memory keep me going.”
The family are fundraising to support Nicole and Kayden’s recovery.
