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© AlamyTragic: Merike Engelbrecht, 25, died instantly on Saturday after a giraffe kicked her near Musina in South Africa
A woman was kicked to death by a giraffe as she walked her dogs on a game farm in South Africa, police said today.

Merike Engelbrecht, 25, died instantly on Saturday after the animal lashed out at her near Musina in the country's Limpopo province.

Police spokeswoman Lieutenant Colonel Ronel Otto said the tragedy happened when one of Ms Engelbrecht's dogs ran towards and startled the giraffe.

It is believed the animal became agitated and violent in an attempt to protect its young calf, who had been walking nearby.

Colonel Otto said: 'It was a terrible incident. It appears the animal kicked out sharply as she walked close to it.

'It is possible the dogs scared the giraffe and the animal reacted on instinct to protect her young calf.

'The impact must have been enormous and we believe the victim would have died instantly.'

Ms Engelbrecht's brother Hannes Visser confirmed his sister had gone for a walk before the incident with her two German Shorthaired Pointers.

He told Afrikaans daily newspaper Beeld that his family had gone to the game farm together to celebrate his mother's 50th birthday and Mother's Day, which in South Africa was on Sunday.

He added that Sunday would also have been his sister's first wedding anniversary. Her widower Juan Engelbrecht was said to be shattered by the tragedy.

The first the family knew that something had happened was when one of the dogs arrived back at their lodge alone with its lead still attached.

When relatives went to investigate they found Merike's body in a field.

Trackers later examined the scene and established the likely sequence of events which led to the tragedy.

Family friend William Smith told Beeld that Ms Engelbrecht had died trying to save her beloved pets.

He said: 'It looks like she scooped up one of the dogs and tried to protect it. That's when the giraffe kicked her on the back of her neck.

'Merike was a special person who was well-loved. She touched the lives of everyone around her.

'She was a nature lover. She was at her happiest in the veld. It was a total freak accident. She gave her life to protect her dogs.'