My sympathy and condolances to his family.

Loved to have met him

Owen was a true gentleman and an exceptional hunter. A huge loss to all. My sympathy to the whole Owen family on their tragic loss. My thoughts are with you all!

A tragic loss, my condolences and sympathies to his family and loved ones.

If a fund is established to help the family, I hope someone will post the details here.

Very sad.

Rest in Peace, Owain. We have shared our last camp fire.

Requiem

~ Robert Louis Stevenson

Under the wide and starry sky,
Dig the grave and let me lie.
Glad did I live and gladly die,
And I laid me down with a will.
This be the verse you grave for me:
Here he lies where he longed to be;
Home is the sailor, home from the sea,
And the hunter home from the hill.


Home Is the Sailor

~ A.E. Housman

Home is the sailor, home from sea:
Her far-borne canvas furled
The ship pours shining on the quay
The plunder of the world.

Home is the hunter from the hill:
Fast in the boundless snare
All flesh lies taken at his will
And every fowl of air.

'Tis evening on the moorland free,
The starlit wave is still:
Home is the sailor from the sea,
The hunter from the hill.

quote:

Originally posted by larryshores:
If a fund is established to help the family, I hope someone will post the details here.

Very sad.

Larry - Tamela Moss is in the process of setting up a fund for Owain's wife, Robbie. Tamela plans to put out details on Monday. I have already pledged the first $100.
Mangwana

Prayers sent

Subsailor74:

Please excuse my ignorance. Who is Tamela Moss?

Larry-

Tamela works for Safari Classics, they are the booking agency for Chifuti Safaris, for whom Owain was working. This will be the same fund that Dave Fulson and Ivan Carter are setting up. I expect a notification sometime Monday after they have made all the banking arrangements.

Anyone who wishes to make a contribution, please check back here Monday afternoon.

Thanks. I had no idea.

'Very sorry to hear. May God comfort their loss.

Sorry to hear of the loss of such a man. Prayers lifted for him and his family. May he rest in peace and may the Lord bless and keep his family.

Prayers go out to Owain, Robbie, the Chifuti family, and Safari Classics family. This is a very tight nit group of people, and Owain was a great man and representative of them all. You will be missed but never forgotten my friend....

I had the pleasure of meeting Owain last August when I was hunting with Clint Edwards in Zim. I have to say, I have never met a more consumate gentleman than Mr. Lewis. Although I spent little time with him, he definitely left an impression on me being the person he was. Subsailor74, if you happen to email his family, please express my condolences or pm me his email address and I would like to do it personally.
God bless his soul and the welfare of his family.
Rick

Unlike many of you,I had the great pleasure and privilage of hunting with Owain for 10 glorious days in the Dande North area of the Zambezi Valley. This was a man who had probably forgotten more about Africa and hunting than any of the younger Ph's will ever learn and Iam most sure that they all would readily admit to that. He was a kind soul who worked hard and always carried with him the very best of attitudes. I remember my short stubby legs moving at nearly a dead run just trying to keep up with him while he walked leasurely. Standing nearly a foot taller than myself he never let a single branch hit me as a walked behind him. His age certainly had no effect on his ability ....being 20 years younger,I was truely in awe of this man. We had the best of times and when it was time to say goodbye we BOTH had tears in our eyes as I do now. Tonight there will be sadness around the world from all who knew him and all who wish they did. God speed and God bless Owain.. your friend, Chris

Anyone who wants to send Robbie Lewis their personal condolences can reach her at: damvuri(at)iwayafrica(dot)com

Rowan Lewis, who is Owain's son, called me tonight. He and his wife were on the way to the airport to catch an early flight out from the States to Harare. The details of what actually happened are still sketchy at the moment, but the account Mangwana posted is the gist of the story.

The only other thing Rowan added was that the buffalo's horn pierced Owain's chest. Rowan didn't know at what point in the attack this happened. It could have been the initial tossing or afterwards, but either way, it all happened in a matter of a few seconds.

Only the young apprentice PH, and the client, know the exact sequence of events. It appears at this point that it was a straight on charge, rather than an ambush from the side. However, that is speculation until Rowan gets to talk to the apprentice PH in person.

Rowan thinks they all fired several shots into the buffalo during the charge. However, he did not know whether Owain was carrying his double rifle, or what weapons the others had. As I recall from holding that double in my hands, it was a .475 Jeffery #2, which is certainly considered enough gun for the business at hand. Just another example that caliber(s) do not trump shot placement.

Anyhow, this is all the information I have at this point in time.

Reading these messages of love and admiration make you want to be a better man.
He must have been a Mountain amongst mere mortals.
Rest in Peace.

A sad sad day in the hunting world with the lost of a great man and great hunter. My heart goes out to his family and friends in this darkest of hours,may he live on in your hearts always..........

my prayers and condolences go out to his family

I didn't have the pleasure of meeting this gentleman, but from all of the heart felt comments already made I wish I had.
My deep condolences to all his family.

Go Rest High.

SOME INFO FROM ZIM - I am currently in camp with Mr. Owain's clients, they arrived about 6 days ago or so. To say I know Mr. Owain well would be a gross over-statement, but over the past 6-7 days I did chat with him numerous times around the fire. He was a TRUE gentleman of the first order for sure!!!!!

Saturday afternoon at 2:30pm, Ian Gibson (My PH) ran to my room and yelled to me that he thought Owain had just been killed by the wounded buff, and we need to get there now. So, I grabbed the .600NE, my bullet belt, jacket and head-lamp, and was off like a shot.

Mr. Owain's clients were all first-time African hunters - a father and two sons. The father hunting buff, the sons - plains game. The father wounded the buff on day one, they all followed again on day 2, but on day 3 only one of the son's could continue, as the father was done for, and one of the son's got sick.

Ian and I arrived at the scene at 5:30pm, Mr. Owain lay only 8 feet from the buffalo bull. I can assure you, the wounds were severe and he did not suffer at all. As only the apprentice and young client were there, Ian wanted to get there asap. Problem was, we were now 2.5 miles from the closest road, dark was just minutes away, and I honestly have NEVER gone over and through such rough/rugged/nasty country to get to the scene. How this bull got there in the first place is beyond me?

So now, we had little choice but to build a fire, and spend the night right there. Leaving the body un-protected was not an option, and getting out of their in the dark, was gonna be impossible anyway. A cold night it was, as I gave the Apprentice my jacket, so Ian and I had just shorts and short sleeve shirts.

At 7:30am the following morning, PH's Pete Barnard & Rex Hoots, my cameraman - Renz, and a bunch of the road crew arrived. Since Renz and I had the most medical experience (I was certified EMT long ago) we fastened a pole carry, as getting a vehicle more than 100 meters off the road was impossible. Renz really took control of the scene, doing an EXCELLENT job! So, as the PH's found a better path to the road, and cut bush, Renz & I, along with various rotations of guys in the back, carried Mr. Owain's body the 2.5 kms to the closest place a road/vehicle could get.

Seeing the scene first-hand, I can assure you - Mr. Owain did his job correctly, and bravely! Owain and the Appie spotted the bull lying down just 20 yards in front of them, and started shooting! It got up, went 10 yards left into another small opening, and they shot some more. By then, they were out of ammo and the bull decided to come. The appie was bumped and rolled to the side, the client was getting out of the way, trip and fell, then ran about 15 yards away, as he was reloading his gun. It was obvious that Mr. Owain was out of ammo, as his gun was empty on the ground. But, like any good PH should do - he bravely stood his ground, tried quickly to reload, but could not in time. He kept the bull's attention, and the other's were able to get out of harm's way, he died saving their lives for sure. Finally the client, shot the bull 3 more times, and it died with Owain's arm lying underneath its head.

From what I was told, and the scene I could see - bad luck was obviously a culprit. The bush was thick, the bull did not come immediately while they were still loaded, and the volley of shots prior to, did not put him down.

A huge reminder of what a truly dangerous game we play, and the PH - what a dangerous life he leads!! As I write this, 2 other Chifuti PH's are following another wounded buff right now. And to Mr. Owain's family - my condolences, he was a very nice man.

My condolences to the Lewis Family.
Unfortunately tracking wounded Buffalo is not so uncommon but thankfully the outcome is not often as bad as this situation.

Wow!

What a horrible tragedy. I can't imagine what the family is going through nor the clients. It is unimaginable.

I am reminded of what an old safari hunter told me once many years ago. "Ammo in the truck or the camp doesn't help when the s@#t hits the fan. My boy, always hold that last shot until you have no choice. "

I hope enough money is raised to help the family. I will contribute as soon as the details are posted.

Being new to the forum, Chifuti Safaris and Safari Classics, I did not know Owain and family but from what I read he was a great man. Our condolences from SSI go out to the family and all who he touched.

Robert

A terrible tragedy, rest in peace Owain. Thanks for the details Aaron.

David

Sorry to hear! Owain was a true gentleman. My condolences to the family and Rowan especially.

My condolences go out to the family,Chifuti safaris and friends.

Good morning AR Family
My apologies for not coming back until this morning. I was going to post a more detailed account, but Aaron was on the ground, and has done an excellent job. My greatest thanks to him for his leadership,selflessness,and physical hardships he freely endured during this nightmare. Thank you my brother. We are in the office making arrangements with our bank to set up a account with the sole purpose of aiding Owain's wife during this terrible mental, physical,and financial time. Zimbabwe is tough enough on women in the best of times... brutal in the worst. So many of you have called and emailed asking how you could help the family of this good man- This is the way, and it will be most deeply appreciated. Of course Safari Classics will lead the charge, but anything our friends could do will be truly prayers answered.
I will be putting another post titled- Owain Lewis Fund on Ar within a few short hours once I meet with the bank. Please feel free to contact me directly at our office 214-360-9599, or on my personal email davefulson@mac.com
Also, my office manager Tamela Moss will be spearheading this effort so feel free to contact her via phone. I will post this as quickly as I can.

Very sorry to read this, my condolences to Owain's family and all who were fortunate enough to have known him.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/new...trying-to-shoot.html


My prayers go out to the family. Link to the incident.

Dave - No thanks necessary! I did what I hope any hunter would do for another, and his family waiting for him. Besides, when Ian was going - we had no idea if the buff was alive or dead at that time? No way I was letting him go in there on his own. Renz however, what a job he did. He's the best cameraman I've seen in the bush. Owain's family would be thankful!

FYI - Owain was carrying his .458 bolt gun. I found 3 spent rounds in the path, and exactly where Owain was standing when he initially got hit. No doubt, he did what he could I assure you. The fact that the bull waited to charge, frankly was the party's bad luck, IMO. By the time he came, they were all empty! It was very clear to see Owain was the only one who stood his ground, as he died just 12 feet behind where the bull initially hit him - lying under the animal. The bull's body was littered with bullet holes, but unfortunately none of them turned off his switch.

I will guarantee you, Owain saved lives - bravery to the end was obviously his motto!

Sad news, my condolences to his family and prayers for Owain.

Definitely an unsettling flashback moment for me.

quote:

Originally posted by BEGNO:
Sad news, my condolences to his family and prayers for Owain.

Definitely an unsettling flashback moment for me.

You were just a lucky ______.

Sorry to hear this, condolences to his family. Thanks for the recap Aaron.

As I read these posts, I wish I had had an opportunity to met Owain. He was certainly a brave and noble man. My condolences to his family.

Home is the hunter.

Aaron Nelson-

Thank you, my friend, for going to be with Owain and for helping sort things out.

I appreciate your first hand report so much. It is hell sitting here not knowing what happened; the mind produces all sorts of scenarios.

I've heard from Robbie again and all the kids are now there or will be soonest. Funeral set for Thursday at the old family farm and a memorial will be held in Harare at Highlands Presbeterian Church. She and Owain had been married for 44 years and he was the love of her life. A very classy lady who thinks of friends even in her grief.

I encourage everyone who is so inclined to make a contribution to the fund once details are announced.

Owain died doing a job he loved the way it should be done in the final analysis. His footprints in africa will remain.

quote:

Originally posted by ivan carter:
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 the 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 ...

This is a tragic reminder that we should all strive to live in such a way that words like these are the recollections of our closest friends.

My condolences. Tragic.

It's all very sad.
I hope when my time comes, I will be as brave as Owen & have a few of the kind words said by his friends said about me.
Be with GOD you noble man!