Namibian PH Jorg Seefeldt, 24 years old was killed this week when he was shot by another PH while stalking an oryx.

I don't know any more details yet. His mother emailed to tell me, but provided little information.

After a number of years of not hosting hunters on their farm Jorg was about to restart the family hunting operation along with his brother. They had just renovated every inch of the farm and bungalows to prepare.

Very sad news.

Everybody please be careful in the field.

Todd

This is indeed a very sad incident. I do not understand how accidents like this happens. Two sad things follows, the one ph's family must live with the untimely death of a son and a brother and the other ph must live with the memory that he shot and killed his friend.

Very sad news indeed.

I feel very sorry for both sides no matter what the circumstances were.

My condolences.

Might this be the son of Bernd Seefeldt, the famous Namibian hunter?

thats a sad news and im speachless ,my condolences

My condolences to the family.

May God have mercy...

All such incidents need to be RECONSTRUCTED as perfectly as can be done for analysis.
This may bring the EXACT reason/error to light. This often can prevent repeating the same fatal steps.

Nickudu,

Yes, he was the son of Bernd and Rita Seefeldt. They had just decided in recent months to start their hunting operation again after a number of years out of the business.

I was priviledged to be introduced to them by Mr. Volker Grelmann on my last visit to Namibia.

They asked me if I would represent them in the US, and of course I am honored to.

We became close while I was there and corresponded regularly preparing for this upcoming season, and with family stories.

I am struck at how deeply one can be affected so soon after becoming friends with someone.

Todd

Thank you Todd. Tragic news, indeed.

Farmhouse to Farmhouse, one could find no better people than in Namibia.

Dear all,
it is indeed a big tragedy.

Posted by the Namibian:

A HUNTING trip at the Hetaku Game Lodge in the Omaheke Region ended in tragedy on Wednesday with the death of a 24-year-old man, and the arrest of his 58-year-old hunting partner on charges of murder and negligent discharge of a firearm.
Jörg Seefeld had been standing in front of the suspect, Dr Kuno Von Plocki, while the latter was loading his rifle.The firearm went off and the bullet him in the back.The accident happened on Tuesday afternoon.
Seefeld was then rushed to the Roman Catholic Hospital in Gobabis, where he died on Wednesday.

Words are never enough at this time...
My prayers to the family..


Mike

My condolonces to the family.Juan Pablo Pozzi md.

An absolute tragedy. Our prayers and thoughts are with his family.

The Hunting Report is covering the story. It looks like there will be an investigation. I hope they get information that will be helpful in terms of improving safety by finding out what went wrong.

Here is Causey's report:

On another subject, The Hunting Report has just learned of the tragic death of a 24-year-old professional hunter in Namibia by the name of Jorge Seefeldt.

The death occurred while Seefeldt and another hunting professional by the name of Kuno Von Plocki were preparing to track a wounded gemsbok on property belonging to Hetaku Game Lodge.

According to Denver Isaacs, crime reporter for the Namibian newspaper in Windhoek, police have taken the unusual step of charging Von Plocki with murder and negligent discharge of a firearm. Isaacs says that should not be taken to mean that Von Plocki deliberately killed Seefeldt. In fact, the police report indicates that Von Plocki was loading his rifle when it went off.

There is good reason to believe the charges against Von Plocki will ultimately be reduced to the equivalent of the US crime of negligent homicide, Isaacs says. He promised to keep The Hunting Report up to date on developments.

As this is written, Von Plocki is free on bail of $3,000 (Namibian). I plan to follow this incident closely, just as I do other accidents and fatal incidents in the field. Our condolences go out to the Seefeldt family who operate a hunting guest farm in Namibia called Silversand. The operation is booked in the US through the T. Jeffrey Safari Company, www.tjsafari.com

My condolences to the family of Mr. Seefeldt, and to Mr. Von Ploki.

I'd be intrested to know what rifle was being loaded in this accident! As is well known, there is one rifle that has been involved it the accidetal deaths of several hunters, because it fires on closeing the bolt, or when the safety is pushed off safe. This has happened enough that the hunting community is mostly aware of it, but not all!

Is anyone privy to the type, and make of rifle in this incident?

Terrible accident. My deepest condolences to the young man's family. My prayers are with them.

This reminds me of the last words my grandfather said to me: "Careful Garrett, the safety's off".

Garrett

Terrible accident, hopefully this happens just often enough to make us all remember to control the muzzle at all times.

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
My condolences to the family of Mr. Seefeldt, and to Mr. Von Ploki.

I'd be intrested to know what rifle was being loaded in this accident! As is well known, there is one rifle that has been involved it the accidetal deaths of several hunters, because it fires on closeing the bolt, or when the safety is pushed off safe. This has happened enough that the hunting community is mostly aware of it, but not all!

Is anyone privy to the type, and make of rifle in this incident?

The rifle was a double .222/7x65R
What is even worse is that it was not the first time that a shot went off unintentionally. O couple of years back the same thing happened and almost killed the driver of the hunting vehicle. Fortunately the bullet was cought in a cross-beam, otherwise the driver would have been hit.

Regs. K

quote:

Originally posted by kamaatu:

quote:

Originally posted by MacD37:
My condolences to the family of Mr. Seefeldt, and to Mr. Von Ploki.

I'd be intrested to know what rifle was being loaded in this accident! As is well known, there is one rifle that has been involved it the accidetal deaths of several hunters, because it fires on closeing the bolt, or when the safety is pushed off safe. This has happened enough that the hunting community is mostly aware of it, but not all!

Is anyone privy to the type, and make of rifle in this incident?

The rifle was a double .222/7x65R
What is even worse is that it was not the first time that a shot went off unintentionally. O couple of years back the same thing happened and almost killed the driver of the hunting vehicle. Fortunately the bullet was cought in a cross-beam, otherwise the driver would have been hit.

Regs. K

Thank you Kamaatu. I'd say the combination rifle and/or it's owner need some work!
I assume this is an O/U combo rifle, and in that type of rifle, about the only thing that can cause this is worn sears in the lock work, or a very careless owner! Even if the rifle is defective,which it probably is, I'd say, since it has happened more than once, and both times it was pointed at someone, My belief is that the owner needs to watch his muzzles a little closer, and/or fix his rifle!

quote:

My belief is that the owner needs to watch his muzzles a little closer, and/or fix his rifle!

My belief is that that careless fool will never touch a gun again!

On the topic of pointing muzzles; I was raised from a small boy hunting the indigenous game in Texas. I was also taught early on to carry my rifle or shotgun muzzle down in a safe direction. When I watch these films of PHs carrying their rifles over their shoulders gripping the barrels toward the muzzle, it scares the hell out of me. Often you'll see a couple of them talking to each other with their respective muzzles pointing at each others' chests. And, on the stalk, the guy in the lead can count on a loaded muzzle pointed in his direction!

What's up with that?

Kamaatu,

I am curious how you know the details of the rifle. And the story about the first incident.

Todd

I've always been amazed at the number of "Professional" hunters that have terrible muzzle discipline.

I'm truely sorry that such a young man had to loose his life over such and easily avoidable situation, especially if it is a repeat of past carelessness.

I thought I would let you know that the Seefeldts will be accepting hunters this year. They said that they may have to bring in a PH temporarily to cover early season hunters, but that the family PH's will eventually begin hunting again.

Rita Seefeldt told me that the memorial was attended "by a few hundred people".

Todd