A well-known international ultrarunner attempting to set a record for the fastest traversal of New Zealand’s famous Te Araroa trail has been attacked by wild dogs.
While Belgian doctor Karel Sabbe — known as the “Michael Jordan of hiking” — escaped unhamed, one of his crew members was bitten and knocked over by the feral dogs and had to be taken to hospital.
But despite the setback, Sabbe and his remaining crew kept on — with their injured mate rejoining them a few days later.
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Sabbe and his crew of fellow runners Marie Vandoorne, Kobe Blondeel, and Henri De Veene began their attempt to set the fastest known time on the 3054km-long trail — which spans the entire length of New Zealand — on January 16.
But just four days and 415km into the journey, they were attacked by feral dogs, Sabbe revealed via social media.
“Yesterday Kobe and I were attacked by wild dogs,” Sabbe posted on Instagram.
“Kobe got bitten, fell and broke his elbow, I was unharmed.”
Blondeel was taken to hospital for treatment and admitted for several days, before eventually rejoining the trail.
He was seen kayaking in a video posted on Instagram on Tuesday.
As of Wednesday, the crew’s journey was continuing — with another social media video showing Sabbe crossing the Okura River.
The Te Araroa trail stretches from Cape Reinga at the top of New Zealand’s North Island to Bluff Hill Motupohue in Southland.
It is famously known as one of the world’s most diverse long-distance hikes, featuring beaches, forests, mountains, and urban areas.
Walking the whole trail can take 50 days to 80 days “depending on how fast you walk, the weather and how long you choose to stop at places along the way,” according to the trail’s official website.
-The feral dog problem in Te Tai Tokerau, a part of the Te Araroa Trail, is not new, New Zealand news website Stuff reported.
Farm animals and native birds have been attacked, with more than 35 kiwis killed by dogs in Opua Forest near Paihia in one year.
The country’s Department of Conservation has even closed some tracks on the trail in the past due to the threat posed by vicious dogs.
Sabbe has completed several long-distance challenges on world-renowned trails.
He currently holds the speed record for the grueling 4265km Pacific Crest Trail which stretches from Mexico to Canada, with a time of 46 days, 12 hours, and 50 minutes.
In 2018, he also set the Guinness World Record for the 3530km Appalachian Trail in the US, completing it in 41 days, seven hours, and 39 minutes.
The current record for Te Araroa is 49 days and 115 hours in total.
Sabbe aims to complete his journey before February 21, when his flights back home are scheduled, according to Stuff.
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