Friends, we are happy to report that Punki's (hopefully) final operation went well. He has been released from the hospital and is home recuperating. There is still a much more minor infection at the wound sites, but it should respond to a wide-spectrum antibiotic. Punki is walking mostly on crutches, not because he has to, but because this is what the Doctors want him to do, and he's trying to follow orders. With the help of many of you, Brittany and I will continue to pay his salary through the end of the year so that he can recover fully, and of course we will see to any physical therapy needs. Truly, considering the wound, it is a marvelous recovery. His doctors are amazed by his tenacity, and this has much to do with his survival, let alone degree of recovery.

As many of you know, we had the opportunity to auction two hunts in support of Punki, a leopard hunt with Omujeve Safaris, including life-size leopard mount and shipping from Reiser taxidermy; and a Mozambique buffalo hunt with Nyati safaris, including a new Rigby double .500 donated by myself, including a shoulder mount of the buffalo donated by Rowdy Woodson of Woods and Water Taxidermy in Austin.
I will accompany these hunts and we will film them for "Tracks Across Africa."

Brittany, Punki, and I wish to express our gratitude for the several generous bids received. As stated, we opened the bids yesterday, 15 July. The winning bidders were:
For the Omujeve leopard hunt, Mr. Bill Jones.
For the Nyati buffalo safari and rifle, Mr. David Porter. Many thanks to both of you, and I will look forward to hunting with you. And, again, thanks so much to our other bidders.

I would also like to thank all of you who contributed to Brittany's "Punki Recovery Fund." (PO Box 33303, Granada Hills, CA 91394). All contributions, great and small, have helped and are helping get a truly great hunter back on his feet and with his dogs. Brittany and I appreciate equally the many prayers, kind words, and messages of support as well.

I have been in this business for 35 years now, and I have always believed we hunters are among the best people in this world. The outpouring of support and concern through this unfortunate situation has validated that belief. I have also believed that we as hunters are all brothers and sisters, and the level of support the hunting community provided for an unknown hunter of a different nation, tribe, and culture validated this belief as well. I cannot thank you all enough.

At this stage setbacks remain possible, and the full degree of Punki's recovery (and future mobility) are unknown, but his strength of character as well as body have helped immeasurably, as has the knowledge that so many people he has never met are praying for him and doing what they can to help him. I was a thousand miles away in the Zambezi Valley when I got the call on this. I was told in no uncertain terms that it was very unlikely that Punki would survive the night. We have come a long way since that terrible day, and now I truly believe that Punki will be present with his dogs when we do Bill Jones' auction hunt. The tremendous support from all of you has been a huge part of this miracle--and I want to especially thank Saeed for keeping this issue at the forefront through this long process.

Needless to say, one must take the bad with the good on these situations. There have been a handful of negative comments and a few that were downright nasty. This is to be expected. An accident like this should not happen, and there are some thngs many of us have thought about that might have avoided it. In general, I cannot tell you how pleased and proud I am at the overwhelmingly positive response and support. Among the negatives, a couple of people suggested that it was a great deal for me because I would get "ten or a dozen" stories out of it. Yes, well, I'm a writer, and I write a lot. But I will not write specifically about this incident. I wasn't there, so I don't own it and can only report second-hand, which is not the kind of writing I do; my role has been to support my daughter and my friends, Punki and his colleagues. There are lessons here that would be valuable for us all, and I am learning that Brittany is a very good writer in her own right. So far I have discouraged her from direct discussion or writing about this. We all need a healing process, though Punki most of all. However, there may come a time when she is ready to tell the story, and there are things we can all learn.

In the meantime, thanks again to all. I will provide occasional posts on Punki's progress, and I look forward to hunting with him again.
With best regards and best wishes to all,
Craig Boddington

You are a classy guy Craig-know that all clearthinking folks believe you have handled this well.

A class guy indeed.

Sid
(A fellow Jayhawk)

Glad to hear Punki is at home and on the mend. I wish him a full and speedy recovery!

Best wishes to all involved.
Jeff

Craig, this is good to hear. Hopefully Punki will not experience any future set backs and his recovery will be much better than anyone expects. This unfortunate event should always serve as a reminder to us all: accidents can happen at any time, to any one. None of us are impervious to them. I don't think anyone could have done a better job as a Father or Hunter than you have in supporting your Daughter and Punki.
God bless,
D.
PS: Congrats to Mr. Jones and Mr. Porter!

Craig You and your family are a class act.

+1

You have my respect.

Bill

quote:

You are a classy guy Craig-know that all clearthinking folks believe you have handled this well.

+1

Seloushunter

Craig I thank you and Brittany for allowing me to help. That kid of yours must be a serious class act! Congratulations on raising a great kid.

Definately, top drawer! Thanks for the update and my thoughts and prayers are with everyone envolved in this accident.

That's great news Craig and like i have said before Thank you for everything you do for our sport. Tell Brittany we are praying for her Too.

Great news Craig. Adversity tends to bring out one's true nature, good or bad and clearly you've demonstrated what I and others already knew, you are one hell of a class act and a true gentleman. I hope you continue to entertain us with your work for many years to come. See you in Dallas and Semper-Fi, jorge

Good news is always welcome, as is the caring and generosity of friends. Truly admire what has been done by all in response to this tragedy, particularly Brittany's and your response. Well done!
Will continue to keep Punki and Brittany in our prayers.
Bfly

This has been one of the most interesting subjects to follow on AR in a long time, I think. First, a terrible tragedy from an accident that similar to something that could have happened to many of us who have hunted across the world for many years. Then, a story that had to be very tough to tell, and responses that spanned the range from supportive to denigrating. Now, it appears that the final chapter will be better than expected, and more than could have been hoped for regarding several of the parties involved.

I can say without hesitation that Mr. Boddington's well written comments above demonstrate character and further elevate my opionion of him and his daughter. Though I'll never likely meet the parties involved, I'd be proud to have the opportunity to share a campfire with any of them them.

Craig,

Thanks for the update and continued wishes for Punki's complete recovery and his return to his beloved dogs and the hunt.

Best to Brittany and Donna.

Semper Fidelis

Keith

This is really good news. Best wishes to all involved.

Torbjorn

Glad to hear the good news. Thanks for letting us know.

Best of luck to Punki for a quick return to good health and running his hounds in the hunting fields!

Congrats to Bill Jones, my fellow Alabamian.

Craig,

I'm glad to see Punki's is doing well! Leopards have really nasty stuff in their claws and teeth, and I hope I never have to have the ill fortune to endure them first hand. Its good to find people who are willing to help others out, and you and your family have done an A+ effort.

John

This class act is somthing I have known about Boddington since I first read one of his atricles written when he was really just a red headed kid!

IMO, Graig is a person who never saw a gun he couldn't find something good about, nor a hunter, or hunting place he didn't like. We should all be so open minded, and see the bottle half full rather than half empty!

Good show Craig Boddington, & Brittany!

Best wishes to all involved and especially an uneventful healing time for Punki.

Glad to hear. I pray for a speady and full recovery for all involved.

Brett

Good News!

Many thanks for the update Craig, I am very glad to hear that Punki's recovery is progressing well.

Thanks for the update as I was wondering how things were progressing. Best wishes for a continuation of the recovery for all involved.

Craig - Thanks for the "great news" update on all involved. Thoughts and prayers are still going out.

Larry Sellers
SCI Life Member

Craig, you and your daughter have handled this horrible incident exactly right. I'm proud to have known and worked with you all these years.

Bill Quimby

Craig;

Thatnks for the positive update, it is good news. Hopefully Punki will return to the field sooner than later.

If all of our politicians had even a little bit of the backbone and character that Craig Boddington has then our country would not be in the mess it is in now.

Any chance that you will ever run for president?

Great news!

Responsibility: what a concept.

Rich

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Responsibility: what a concept.

Rich

It is a nice concept.