( CNN ) -- A renowned South African whitewater guide and outdoorsman was apparently pulled from his kayak by a crocodile in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is presumed dead , expedition sponsor Eddie Bauer said . Hendrik Coetzee and two American kayakers , Ben Stookesberry and Chris Korbulic , were on the Lukuga River when the incident occurred Tuesday , the clothing and outdoor gear company said on its `` Born Out There '' blog . Stookesberry and Korbulic were able to paddle to safety and were assisted by the International Rescue Committee , the website said . `` The mission for the Africa kayak expedition was to run and document the unexplored whitewater of the region , while focusing on the people and clean water crisis in Central Africa , '' Eddie Bauer said . `` We are saddened by the tragic accident and express our deepest sympathies to Hendri 's family and friends . We would like to thank the IRC and Solidarites International , who continue to provide assistance and support to the team . '' Coetzee , known as Hendri , last posted an entry on his `` The Great White Explorer '' blog on November 26 . In it , he described the team 's paddle through a challenging and beautiful stretch of river in the region . `` As hard , warm drops trashed at our little selves and a pair of goats , we stood precariously on a unknown slope deep in the heart of Africa , for once my mind and heart agreed , I would never live a better day , '' Coetzee wrote . Stookesberry , in a dispatch published November 1 on Outside magazine 's website , said team leader Coetzee offered safety advice . `` Stay out of eddies ... especially the small BS ones because there are three-ton hippos that will bite you in half , '' Coetzee said , according to Stookesberry , an extreme kayaer . `` Stay off the banks because the crocs are having a bake and might fancy you for lunch . Basically , stay close behind me and follow my lead . Any questions ? '' According to Outside , Coetzee gained prominence after he led the first source-to-sea expedition of the Nile River , in 2004 . He later returned and soloed the infamous Murchison Falls section of the Nile in Uganda .
Chris Korbulic was leading a team in Uganda sponsored by Stookesberry . He apparently was pulled from a kayak by a crocodile on Central Africa . two kayakers with him were able to paddle to safety , according to sponsor 's blog .