I was heading out on a fishing trip yesterday when I got a phone call from a friend telling me that Christie de Sousa of Kamanjab, Namibia had been killed in a car wreck the night before.

On the phone with our friend JJ of Windhoek this morning, JJ said that Christie was checking leopard baits and swerved to miss a kudu on the road, and ended up rolling several times.

I met Christie ten years ago near the start of his career as a PH. Before that he had been an undersea diver for diamonds and a 'farmer' ... In his part of Namibia it is too dry too often to raise crops so they have cattle, sheep, and some raise a few goats. Christie had decided to do the professional hunting route and made a fabulous success of it ... My buddy Sir Phill and I made a deal that we would be able to hunt with him for up to three months a year for the rest of our lives ... sadly, being about thirty years older than the fine young man, we never dreamed it would end this way ...

I hunted sandgrouse with him over waterholes, fished for sharks and other fish in Angola (he was a big fisher !), searched for a wounded leopard together ...

Ate great food ... drank fine single malt .. laughed endlessly ..

He leaves behind a wonderful young wife, Madeleine .. and two boys and a girl ... the oldest probably just into her teens ..

He was going to get my lady a leopard last September but we had to postpone the trip when Margaret found out that she needed treatments for throat cancer that month .. She is cured ... but poor Christie is gone ...

Condolences. Didn't know the man, but it sounds like you did very well. Hard to lose a friend.

My goodness, it hurts to loose someone close to us. Especially someone who we have have so many fond memories of.

I am so sorry to hear this.

Christie was a good man. Met him a couple years back when I was hunting with his brother-in-law Lukas. So sad!!!!

Very sorry about your friend, Thoughts and prayers to his family.

A great loss and tragedy indeed at such a young age....my condolences and prayers to family and friends...RIP

So very sorry to hear this sad news.

One of my good friends recommended I hunt with Christie so I booked a leopard hunt with him. The ban then went into effect, so I never did hunt with him.

Great guy...so sorry to hear this terrible news.

I hunted with him in 2007 and again in 2010. Like Scruffy, I have nothing but good things to say about him. Without a doubt he was one of the finest people and hunters I have ever met. The 4 weeks I and my wife spent with him and Madeleine were without a doubt the highlights of my 44 years on this planet. We were crushed by the news, and African hunting will not be the same for me ever again.

Sorry to hear the loss of your friends. Prayers for all.

Terrible tragedy. Thoughts and prayers to all.

I didn't know him but the real question is, what is the financial situation for his wife and kids? Do they need a helping hand? Prayers are nice, but they don't pay many bills.

I can talk with my friend Lukas Holthausen. He is Christie's brother in law. I will ask what the financial stuation is. If we get something going, I'm in for $50.00. I'm leaving in 4 and 1/2 weeks to hunt with Lukas.

Did not personally know him but am familiar with the feeling of losing a close friend. Sorry for your loss and prayers go out to a family that has lost a father and husband.

From what I understand from Madeleine's e mail, the safari year will continue on with the guides that Christie used when needed. I have hunted with several over the years and they were excellent .. Christie wouldn't have had it any other way. This young widow and her children probably don't need so much kind folks donating cash - but to continue on with making a living - as Christie was doing so well for all those years that I knew him - and certainly before ... I'll be back in July of 2015 with my nephew and his lady where they will be doing a two week safari ...

It is all so very sad but life does go on. Hopefully with lots of repeat and new safari clients in the coming years ...

quote:

Originally posted by Gatogordo:
I didn't know him but the real question is, what is the financial situation for his wife and kids? Do they need a helping hand? Prayers are nice, but they don't pay many bills.

DSC has setup a system whereby professionals hurt in the safari industry can get help.

We are all without words losing Christie and our deepest sympathy goes to his wife Madelein and the kids. His mother, sisters and the rest of his family.

I will remember him as a great man, colleague and friend that lived life to the fullest, the forever hunter.

May you Rest in Peace Christie you will be sorely missed in our neck of the woods.

“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.”

Scruffy this is beyond tragic. I spent three weeks with him in 2005...it's hard to believe this terrible news.
Do you have any other details on what happened? I am hoping that he wasn't alone.
Do you know which guys are guiding for him now?

Yo, Nampom .... Yes, I am sure that everyone who knew this fine man would agree that he certainly lived life to the fullest ... I know that his dad died at around fifty if I remember correctly and perhaps that had something to do with his attitude ... To live !!! And enjoy life !!! The only information that I have is that he was checking leopard baits .. there was a kudu on the road and he swerved to miss it .. rolling several times. I believe that he was with a friend ??? But that is all that I have heard ...

Since I had to postpone my last year's safari due to my lady's medical treatments I can't really say if Gideon or whoever else was guiding for him is doing it this year ..

Sorry to hear. Our thoughts and prayers with his family.

quote:

Originally posted by chuckmaxman:
I can talk with my friend Lukas Holthausen. He is Christie's brother in law. I will ask what the financial stuation is. If we get something going, I'm in for $50.00. I'm leaving in 4 and 1/2 weeks to hunt with Lukas.

If you find that a bit of money would help out, I'll contribute $250. If the family is not in need, then I'll wait for ones that are. Let me know either in here or by PM.

quote:

Originally posted by scruffy:
Yo, Nampom .... Yes, I am sure that everyone who knew this fine man would agree that he certainly lived life to the fullest ... I know that his dad died at around fifty if I remember correctly and perhaps that had something to do with his attitude ... To live !!! And enjoy life !!! The only information that I have is that he was checking leopard baits .. there was a kudu on the road and he swerved to miss it .. rolling several times. I believe that he was with a friend ??? But that is all that I have heard ...

Since I had to postpone my last year's safari due to my lady's medical treatments I can't really say if Gideon or whoever else was guiding for him is doing it this year ..

Scruffy, it was a very tragic accident! The friend got out alive but with major injuries and needless to say he is having a tuff time dealing with Christie's death.

I think Madelein has this year covered with help, Gideon is not there anymore Christie got someone else in this season. She is a strong lady and I think if she puts her mind to it she will make a suceess of it and make Christie proud.

It will be good if you can keep in touch with her she needs a lot of support from friends.

Yo, Roger ... thanks for the update . Although I have written Madelein, I shall certainly try to get some more clients for the upcoming years for her. The great part of such a business is you send a hunter over ... he brings a friend with him ... a year or two later they return with more friends ...

And we go on ...

I don't have the words for this situation. The world just got a bit emptier. I booked my first ever African hunt with Christie about ten years ago, but never actually got to meet him in the flesh. He and Madelein were so concerned, so determined, to organise a true life experience for me. It went beyond professionalism and was deeply touching.

Let me know if I can help.

Dean