Fatal Lion Attack on Tour Guide in “Cecil’s” Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe

Less than a week ago, safari company Camp Hwange was celebrating the “cat bonanza” they had been enjoying lately. Sadly this turned to tragedy yesterday morning when one of their professional guides was mauled to death by a male lion while out on a walking safari.

The attack took place at Hwange Park in northwestern Zimbabwe which recently made world news after one of its lions, known by the name of Cecil, was lured out of the Park and killed by an American hunter.

Yesterday Camp Hwange confirmed the death of Quinn Swales with “deep regret and great sadness”.

This evening the following statement was published on the Camp’s facebook page with further details:

“While leading a bush walk with guests of Camp Hwange on the morning of 24 August 2015, Quinn Swales (40), a fully qualified and very experienced Zimbabwean Professional Guide, was tragically and fatally mauled by an adult male lion.

“Quinn and his group of six clients had come across the tracks of a pride of lions while walking down the edge of an open savannah “vlei line” and soon thereafter came across the pride lying down some distance from them.

“At this point the adult male rose and began walking purposefully towards the group. As he had done numerous times in his career, Quinn immediately briefed his guests on what to expect and instructed them to get behind him and not move.

“At this stage the lion did not charge the group, but unusually kept walking purposefully towards them. Once it had breached a certain point, both Quinn and his party of guests began shouting at the lion in an attempt to intimidate it.

“This had the desired affect and the lion stopped to watch them, allowing Quinn the opportunity to set off a “bear banger” (very loud fire bang) to further dissuade it. This caused the lion to move off obliquely, away from the group, in a manner which suggested it would return to the pride, but it suddenly turned and instantaneously charged and attacked Quinn who had continued to place himself between his guests and the animal.

[quote_center]”He paid the ultimate price in pursuit of a job he loved…”[/quote_center]

“Quinn bore the full brunt of the charge and, unable to fire his rifle due to the speed of the attack, literally stopped the attack of the lion on his group by placing himself directly in harm’s way.

“Having been thrown to the ground, bitten in the shoulder and neck Quinn sadly died at the scene, the shouting of his guests driving the lion away from his body and allowing, ultimately unsuccessfully, emergency first aid to be performed.

“Using the handheld radio, the guests – themselves unhurt and now out of danger – then called camp for assistance.

“David Carson, General Manager of Camp Hwange, himself a Professional Guide with more than twenty five years’ experience, paid tribute to Quinn: ‘Only praise and admiration can be given to Quinn in the professional way he unflinchingly faced the charging lion, thus ensuring that he protected the clients all of whom were unharmed in any way. He paid the ultimate price in pursuit of a job he loved, in an area he knew so well. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, colleagues and friends at this sad time. It would be appreciated if the family be given the privacy to mourn the loss of a fine man.'”

The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority also issued a statement confirming the incident, and pointed out that Quinn was a Professional Guide and not a Professional Hunter.

The Parks statement says that “one of the lions known as Nxaha was collared” (similarly to Cecil) and that “Nxaha jumped out at Quinn. All efforts to save Quinn were in vain. The matter was immediately reported to the police who are carrying out investigations.”

[quote_center]”…man was trampled to death by an elephant in Victoria Falls…”[/quote_center]

The Parks also revealed in the same statement that as 32-year-old man was trampled to death by an elephant in Victoria Falls – “The deceased it is reported had gone to polish his curios for sale to tourists with his friend. Upon returning they came across a female elephant with a calf. It is reported that the elephant charged at them and the two tried to escape unfortunately one was attacked and killed. The surviving friend reported the incident to the police who together with Zimparks rangers went to try and locate him. They later found his body which they later took to Victoria Falls Hospital.”

Camp Hwange stressed that Zimbabwe is world-renowned for the quality of their Professional Guides and the comprehensive and exhaustive process of qualification.

Our deepest sympathies to the friends, family and colleagues of both men.