Safari guide mauled to death by lion as he protected tourists | World | News
The park had already seen tragedy just months earlier, when Cecil the lion was hunted (Image: Channel 4)
A devastating incident claimed the life of a safari guide who was leading a photographic walking expedition in Zimbabwe.
The 40-year-old succeeded in protecting the tourists’ lives when the horrifying incident happened in 2015, but subsequently succumbed to his injuries.
Hwange National Park is home to substantial elephant herds, lions, and other creatures indigenous to the African continent, and Quinn Swales had explored the park “numerous times in his career,” according to a Facebook statement issued by the firm that operates camps in the reserve.
The post detailed how the group of seven was walking along the perimeter of an open area when they saw a pride of lions. Immediately, one of the adult males rose from where he had been resting and began advancing towards the group.
When confronted with the lion, Quinn responded calmly, as it wasn’t the first occasion he had encountered such a scenario, reports the Daily Star.
The group of six was led by tour guide Quinn Swales (Image: VW Pics, Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
He told his group about what to expect from the animal’s behaviour and directed them to position themselves behind him and remain still.
Quinn and the group discharged a “bear banger”, a device described by the camp as producing a loud sound, and the lion withdrew. Shortly afterwards, however, it returned to attack Quinn.
The statement reveals he did everything within his power: “Quinn bore the full brunt of the charge and, unable to fire his rifle due to the speed of the attack, literally stopped the lion attacking his group by placing himself directly in harm’s way.”
Quinn Swales was described as an excellent, very experienced guide (Image: Hwange Camp)
After suffering bites to his shoulder and neck, Quinn tragically died at the scene. The terrified screams and commotion from the guests eventually scared the lion away, enabling the tourists to summon assistance and attempt to provide aid to the guide.
Yet Hwange National Park was no stranger to tragedy, even prior to this incident. The location was home to Cecil the lion, who, earlier that same year, was killed in what was believed to be an illegal hunt.
The 13-year -ld lion – a visitor favourite at the park – was being tracked as part of a study conducted by Oxford University researchers, and was hunted down with an arrow and, 10 hours later, killed with a gun by Walter Palmer, an American trophy hunter.
The killing triggered immediate widespread global condemnation and resulted in protests and criminal proceedings, though Palmer was subsequently acquitted of all charges.
Despite both tragedies, Camp Hwange is widely regarded as safe, as long as visitors strictly follow park regulations.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority stresses that visitors must stay in their vehicles, comply with driving curfews, keep a safe distance from animals, and avoid feeding wildlife.
