Erwin Kotze was killed today hunting elephant

On the plains of hesitation lie the bleached bones of ten thousand, who on the dawn of victory lay down their weary heads resting, and there resting, died.

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings - nor lose the common touch...
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And - which is more - you'll be a Man, my son!
- Rudyard Kipling

Life grows grim without senseless indulgence.

25 April 2013, 00:00

Rich Schultz

My thoughts are with his family and friends.

25 April 2013, 00:15

surestrike

May the wind eternally be in his face and the sun at his back, may the spoor be fresh and his aim true as he stalks the great beasts in heaven.

RIP young man...

25 April 2013, 02:51

LJS

Too young!!! May he rest in peace.

25 April 2013, 04:47

R.Jolly

Very sad. My condolences to his family.

25 April 2013, 05:07

ftg767

So sad....condolences to his family.

25 April 2013, 06:04

Aaron Neilson

quote:
Originally posted by LJS:
Too young!!! May he rest in peace.

Exactly!!

25 April 2013, 06:58

BearCountry953

May the love and prayers the world has shown to us in Massachusetts be shared with his friends and family while they face their loss.

25 April 2013, 07:11

lavaca

It's rumoured that heaven is full of 100 pounders. I hope that is the case and wish Erwin good hunting. In the mean time, we can only offer his friends and family our condolences, our thoughts, our prayers.

25 April 2013, 07:16

BenKK

Words fail, but my best thoughts and wishes to his friends and family.

25 April 2013, 07:17

sactoller

Damn shame,

Condolences to his family and friends.

25 April 2013, 07:24

Paul Reed

Very sad to hear the news, may he rest in peace.

25 April 2013, 23:45

Pete458lott

Condolences and prayers to Erwins family, happy hunting where ever the clouds may take you...RIP

26 April 2013, 03:37

LionHunter

Sorry for this trouble and condolences to friends and family.

I do hope that details of the how and why will be forthcoming at the appropriate time.

26 April 2013, 10:58

ingwe007

Condolences to family and friends my thoughts and prayers go out to them rip

26 April 2013, 13:30

Daghaboy

Very sad to hear. My condolences to his people.

26 April 2013, 14:06

bcolyer

Condolensces..........Very Sad.

26 April 2013, 15:51

Peter Barnard

Condolences to Erwins family and friends.So sad to see someone so young to pass on like this.

26 April 2013, 16:29

Zig Mackintosh

So sad, condolences to the family.

26 April 2013, 20:37

billrquimby

Condolences to his family and friends. Any details on how it happened?

Bill Quimby

26 April 2013, 23:03

Buzz Charlton

Very sad indeed! Condolences to family and friends.

26 April 2013, 23:42

kala_azar

Saw this in the Hunt Report today-

quote:
PH Killed By Elephant In Namibia

PH Erwin Kotze, recently killed by an elephant.

Professional Hunter Erwin Kotze died Tuesday, April 23, after being trampled by an elephant in northwestern Namibia. Kotze, who was only 27, was a PH for Peter Thormahlen of Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris.

Kotze was guiding a client while hunting desert elephant in the Kaokoland concession called Orupupa Conservancy. The hunting party had been tracking a bull since morning. Kotze stalked closer to evaluate the ivory. Something went wrong, and the animal charged him without warning. The elephant trampled Kotze, breaking his pelvis. Another PH in the party carried Kotze to the hunting vehicle and called for a medivac to meet them at a nearest airstrip. Unfortunately, Kotze died of internal injuries before reaching the airstrip.

Kotze was unmarried and is survived by his parents, Werner and Erna Kotze, who were flying into Namibia from their home in Botswana to make funeral arrangements. In a statement issued to The Hunting Report, Peter Thormahlen said, "We are shocked, grieved and very, very heartbroken. Erwin was like a son in our house."

Condolences may by sent to Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris by email to info@africatrophyhunting.com or by snail mail to 70 Columbus Street, PO Box 26201, Nelspruit, 1200 South Africa. For the Kotze Family, send to PO Box 478, Francistown, Botswana. Send flowers to Kotze Family, Ferndal Village No 2, Windhoek, Namibia.

Here at The Hunting Report, we are saddened by Kotze's untimely and tragic death. Both Editor Barbara Crown and Correspondent Mel Toponce had met Kotze and recall him as an upbeat, energetic young man with a promising future as a PH. We extend our deepest condolences to his parents and the entire Thormahlen and Cochran Safaris family. - Editor Barbara Crown

27 April 2013, 01:15

sammyh312

Our prayers and thoughts to his mother and father.

28 April 2013, 01:19

martin pieters

My deepest condolences to his family

28 April 2013, 02:23

Mike Smith

Everyone in Namibia I spoke to thought highly of Kotze and had nothing but good to say about him. On the same note almost to the person no one had anything positive to say about Thormahlen and Cochran.

29 April 2013, 02:50

PD999

Prayers go to his family. RIP

29 April 2013, 06:02

Wildlife Gallery

Very sad news. I spoke with Erwin on numerous occasions at the conventions this year. You never think it will be the last conversation. A reminder of how fragile life is so we must live it to the fullest... Condolences to his friends and family...

29 April 2013, 06:08

larryshores

quote:
Originally posted by Mike Smith:
Everyone in Namibia I spoke to thought highly of Kotze and had nothing but good to say about him. On the same note almost to the person no one had anything positive to say about Thormahlen and Cochran.

Interesting.

30 April 2013, 00:50

dawaba

quote:
Originally posted by larryshores:
quote:
Originally posted by Mike Smith:
Everyone in Namibia I spoke to thought highly of Kotze and had nothing but good to say about him. On the same note almost to the person no one had anything positive to say about Thormahlen and Cochran.

Interesting.

I'm interested too. Are the people who dislike Thormahlen clients, ranchers, PHs, trackers, booking agents, Namibian politicians, or....? All of the filed reports on Thormahlen with The Hunting Report are positive.

Poor Kotze must have liked the outfit since he worked for them for several years. I talked with him, as well as the rest of the Thormahlen crew, at the shows; all were gracious and professional. Terrible news about Erwin's death.

30 April 2013, 01:11

larryshores

Seems as if Peter is always around trouble. Not sure why.

30 April 2013, 01:17

infinito

I have heard a lot of things.....but always seems to boil down to the biggest cancer amongst outfitters.....professional jealousy?

A real gutted feeling about Erwin, since I knew him.....and aonly a couple of weeks after the tragic death of my good friend Henk also from Namibia. It feels like yesterday that all off us were in Rambulions in Reno......

Charl van Rooyen
Owner
Infinito Travel Group
www.infinito-safaris.com
charl@infinito-safaris.com
Cell: +27 78 444 7661
Tel: +27 13 262 4077
Fax:+27 13 262 3845
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Groblersdal
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Limpopo
R.S.A.

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