Crocodile attacks, kills Spokane teen in Zimbabwe during vacation with family
SPOKANE — A 17-year-old Spokane girl was killed by a crocodile this week while vacationing with her family in Zimbabwe.
Katy Reeves was at the remote Mana Pools National Park with family members when the attack occurred, according to family friend Peter Witherspoon of Spokane.
Witherspoon's wife, Gay, took a telephone call from Jack Reeves, Katy's father, on Monday morning. Witherspoon said Jack Reeves had to travel five hours to reach the nearest telephone.
Reeves, able to talk for less than a minute on a radio or satellite phone, asked Gay Witherspoon to break the news to two of his daughters who had remained in Spokane.
Katy was vacationing with her parents, Jack and Carol Reeves, and a sister, Carrie.
On Wednesday, Jack Reeves was able to call his daughters in Spokane from Harare, Zimbabwe, Peter Witherspoon said.
The two sisters in Spokane "appear to be holding up well under the circumstances," Witherspoon said. "It's a tough time obviously for them and everybody, they're doing as well as can be expected."
No details of the death or the family's travel plans were available yesterday.
"The family wants to get home and be able to then address it with the community at that time," Witherspoon said.
Classmates and faculty at St. George's school in Spokane remembered Katy Reeves as an avid dancer, singer and actress.
"It's just sort of a numbness," said Don Ciavola, supervisor of upper grades at St. George's, an independent private school where she was to be a senior. "I could tell you a hundred stories just about seeing her in the hall and seeing her on stage."
The 35 members of her class met Wednesday with a grief counselor, Ciavola said.
"She had a great smile," he said. "She could light up a room with that smile."
Witherspoon remembered her as a vivacious young woman.
"She was a tremendous lady, she was friends with everyone she came in contact with," he said.
Friends were waiting for the family's return to discuss any memorial plans.