Safari-park owner who once said he’d rather be killed by an elephant than shoot one is fatally trampled –by an elephant

A safari park owner who once said he would rather be killed by an elephant than shoot one was fatally trampled by an elephant at his wildlife reserve in South Africa.

Gary Freeman, 65, an experienced safari guide, was leading a small group of tourists at Klaserie Private Nature Reserve in Limpopo province on April 9 when an elephant suddenly charged at him.

According to a source familiar with the incident, Freeman attempted to break the animal’s charge but did not fire his weapon.

“Gary tried to stop the charge, but he never fired a shot. The elephant was on him very quickly, and it was not a pleasant situation,” the source said. “There is nothing anyone can do to stop six tons of an angry elephant. Fortunately, it was over quickly.”

The four tourists with him helped place Freeman into a vehicle and rushed him to seek medical help, but he died from his injuries before he could be treated.

“He had succumbed to his severe injuries,” the source said.

Freeman was known for his strong respect for elephants. A previous visitor to the 148,000-acre reserve recalled his admiration for the animals.

“In the past, we heard Gary speak about his deep respect and love for elephants,” said Judy Connors of Johannesburg in a tribute posted on Facebook. “He said he would rather be killed by an elephant than shoot one.”

Freeman originally graduated from college with a degree in mechanical engineering but later chose a different path, becoming a ranger and operating the safari company he co-owned for 33 years.

He helped establish the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve in 1969, when 36 farm owners joined together to create one of South Africa’s largest Big Five game reserves.

Police in Limpopo have opened an inquest into the incident, and wildlife experts have been asked to determine whether the elephant involved poses a danger to others.

Although elephant attacks are uncommon, estimates suggest that between 300 and 600 people worldwide are killed by elephants each year.

In a separate incident earlier this year, nearly two dozen people were killed and 15 others were injured when an elephant went on a 10-day rampage through several towns and villages in India.