Footie fan crosses croc, hippo-infested river to win soccer World Cup final ticket

A footie fan from Nelspruit, South Africa was so desperate to get a ticket for the finals of the soccer World Cup that he decided to brave a river full of crocodiles.

Maurice Meyer, 32, and his teacher wife Nicole, 30, swam across the Crocodile River last weekend in an attempt to win the ticket.

Meyer recently came to know that Darren Scott, the RJ of Jacaranda 94.2's Just Plain Breakfast was hunting for someone who would be willing to do something special to win the last VIP ticket, which is believed to be worth R100 000.

"All of the suggestions he received sounded a bit weak to me. So I thought...why not swim through a river known for its many  crocodiles and hippos?" Sport24.com quoted Meyer as saying.

However, Jacaranda 94.2's management did not support Meyer's challenge as it was thought to be too dangerous.

But Meyer had made up his mind.

Inspired by her husband's attempt, his wife also offered to swim across the river.

The couple entered the river from Maurice's brother Gert's farm close to the well-known Crocodile Bridge. He swam across first followed by his wife.

While a video was filmed, Meyer's brother stood on the shore with a gun, keeping an eye out for any attack on the two swimmers.

The videos were sent to Jacaranda 94.2 on Sunday afternoon.

Jacaranda 94.2 announced Monday morning that Mayer was one of the finalists who would compete for the ticket.