Friends - I am sorry to bring you sad news from Zimbabwe. Owain Lewis, long time PH with
Chifuti Safaris, was killed by a wounded buffalo this morning. We have lost a great man and dear friend.
The account relayed to me was that Owain, an Appy, and the client were following up a wounded buffalo for the third day. The buffalo charged out of nowhere, knocking the Appy into the client – both went flying and both lost rifles in the melee. The buffalo then charged Owain, hooked him and tossed him, breaking his neck. The Appy and the client then shot the buffalo off of Owain, but it was too late. I was told all the PHs and trackers in the Zambezi Valley stopped hunting and travelled to the site in Cherwore North to stay with the body until it was removed to Harare – a classy tribute from his colleagues for sure.

We lost a great man today – remember him the next time you lift your glass.
Mangwana

Very sad news. There have been several reminders this season that they call it dangerous game for a reason. Our thoughts are with his family and friends and the Chifuti team.

This is terrible news, Owain was a great man. We were just talking about him this morning. Very sad news.

Very sad to hear this. BEst wishes to his family and all who knew him.

Very sorry to hear this, my condolences to his friends and family.

I am in shock. Owain was to be my PH this August for Ele & Buff. I need to send notices and condolences.

Would one of you that knew him and/or hunted with him, please consider posting a photograph of the man here so the rest of us can remember him. Thank you.

I has a very heated argument with Owain one day as we sat on the bank of the Zambezi in Chewore North, about him recommending solids instead of softs on buffalo.

I hope that the bullet choice was irrelevant.

Ray Atkinson booked for him for many years.

Some bad & tough luck and sorry to lose him.

Damn, that is too dang bad.

Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Hate to hear this stuff.

Click on the picture to enlarge. This is Owain last year in Chewore North. A true gentleman. He will be missed by all those who knew him. Deepest sympathy to his family and close friends.

My sincere condolences to his family and to the Chifuti family.

It's never good to hear of such a loss. My condolences.

This is sad news. I just heard a french PH was killed by a wounded buff in Cameroun last week!

Arjun

condolences to his family

Sad news. God bless his family.

We shared camp with Owain last September and connected at the DSC show in January. I enjoyed our conversations, our shared stories, and his advice on hunting tuskless ele's. I will miss him and his peaceful manner.
As a client I will redouble practice and focus...I'm sick over this loss.

quote:

As a client I will redouble practice and focus

Good point. Sometimes it's the PH's that may depend on our quick follow-ups and calm nerves.

My thought was more about making certain that the initial shot is sure and fatal to minimize the risk for us all and not about backing the PH up. The better I am the less likely the PH has to back me up. Over the years I have had backup shots placed by the PH which works for me...
Practice and confidence help in all cases for sure.

My thoughts and prayers are with the Lewis family. RIP Owain...

Below is the contents of an E-Mail I received from Owain's wife, Robbie. I will post further details as I get them.
Mangwana

Dearest Friends and Loved ones
Sadly I tell of the death of my Precious Owain .
He met his death yesterday - charged by a wounded buffalo. I have no details as yet - but I know you join with me in Honouring a True Gentleman - A man of his word and loved by so many .
Thank you for sharing your life with us .
God holds us in the palm of his hand ... I take shelter in knowing He watches over us with Love .
My family are coming from NZ and Usa I ask that you stay in touch .
Love robbie

Tragic incident for all involved, Condolences to all his family and friends.

rest in peace
Owain

Truly sad. Our sympathies to his family and friends.

Truly sad. Use Enough Gun and I spent a night with him in Tafika on the Zambezi last June. He was hunting leopard and had been hard at it for several days when we were there. He seemed a kind and decent man.

As you can imagine it has been a very difficult day for the Chifuti and Safari Classics family.I had wanted to have a day to catch my breath before I weighed in, but it got out and it is after midnight and I will address it in the am. My thoughts are mostly with Robbie. They are dear friends, have been welcome guests in my home, and words are in short supply to describe the sadness and loss we feel. My phone has rang continually and many have asked what they can do for the family of this fine man, Ivan and I will speak again in the morning, and we will address those questions at that time. If you believe in prayer, send them on behalf of his wife and family. I will be back on in the morning.
Many thanks for your thoughts.
Dave

I've received an email note from Robbie Lewis. She is understandably in shock as she last spoke with Owain Friday evening. She knew he was having difficulty following tracks. She is receiving condolences from around the world and is grieving the loss of her husband. I know she appreciates your kind thoughts.

This is horrible, horrible news. I went on my first hunt in Zimbabwe with Damvuri Safaris, which was Owain's farm before he was wise enough to sell at the beginning of the land invasions. I have remained a loyal friend with Owain, Robbie, and Rowan for many years and they have all stayed at my house.

I had the pleasure of driving them all over Atlanta and North Georgia, showing them the sights and being their tour guide.

This is an unbelievable shock for me to hear that he is gone, especially when I think of all the other despicable maggots who really need killing.

His death is a terrible blow for the entire safari community. He was one of the last of the old time PHs whose word was gold, his actions beyond reproach, and his professionalism an example for all who followed. He was a good man, a good father, and a good friend, and I will never forget him.

The Lord Bless you Owain, and your wife and family, may they have His peace which passes all understanding in this difficult time. from us all at Tshabezi.

A graphic and tragic lesson on why it is so important for a client to place that first shot correctly. RIP Owain!

465H&H

Reality check to all hunters!!

Famba Zvakanaka Mudara...Tichaonana

I was fortunate enough to have shared a few dinners and campfires with Owain last year at chenge camp. My condolences to his family, the Chifuti team and the Safari Classics team.

a very very sad loss indeed , owain was an incredible gentleman , a man of his word with impecable integrity ...he was a man of god and one of those kind of people one wished you had more time around ...he had a way of always saying teh right thing at the right time and his commitment to "doing what is right no matter what" was an inspiration to all who knew him ... he will be sadly missed and fondly remembered ...

Prayers sent... Condolences to his family and friends. Heart aching tragedy.

D. Nelson

Sad, damn sad ! Condolences and sympathies to all concerned.

Prayers and condolences to the family and close friends. Our short experience with the Chifuti and Safari Classics family showed us a close-knit group who will be heartbroken to lose one of their own.

Very sorry to hear that.

A tragic loss, my sincere condolences to the family.

Never met Owain but he sounds like a great guy. My sympathies to his family.

Mark

I never met Owain but that matters not. I'm sorry to hear of the passing of a great hunter and a good man.

Anytime we loose a man like Owain, we are diminished. Deepest sympathy to his familyand loved ones.