It is with deep sadness to announce the passing of Chifuti Safaris professional hunter Ian Gibson. Ian was tragically killed by an elephant bull earlier today while guiding an elephant hunt in Chewore North (Lower Zambezi Valley).

The details are just starting to emerge as I write this. However it appears that Ian and his client had been on the tracks of an elephant bull for approximately 5 hours when they decided to take a break and allow the client to rest. Feeling he was quite close to the elephant, Ian and his tracker Robert continued to follow the tracks in hopes of getting a look at the ivory as the client stayed with the game scout to rest. Robert indicated the bull was in musk. They eventually caught up to the bull, spotting him at about 50-100 meters. The bull instantly turned and began a full charge. Ian and Robert began shouting in order to stop the charge. At very close range, Ian was able to get off one shot before the bull killed him. The scene was very graphic.

Ian Gibson was a fine man and one of the most experienced professional hunters on the African continent. He will be deeply missed by all…

I will provide more details as they become available.

I am speechless. What a tragedy and a loss.

Heartbreaking, and a real shame. A great loss for all of us. Sympathy to his entire family.

So sorry. Prayers to all.

What terrible news, he was a good man. Truly heartbreaking.

What a terrible tragedy!

Our prayers to his family and friends.

Sad news. Thoughts and prayers to his family.

Holy crap...

Thoughts and prayers...unreal.

First Owain, and now Ian. This is terribly sad. Our hearts go out to the family and Chifuti. We are stunned.

Terrible day for the hunting community. Heart goes out to the family. RIP

Ian was bigger than life. Such a competent and fun loving PH. A great loss to the hunting community. He will be greatly missed.
lb

A huge loss to the hunting fraternity a great person that will be sorrily missed!

What terrible news. My thoughts and prayers are for his family.

Horrible news. Condolences to the family.

Very sorry to hear about this Dave. Sending my thoughts and prayers to friends, family, and colleagues.

Shawn

Tough deal and even tougher for family and friends around him
That's elephant hunting and for us hunters, these PH's are what keeps us safe
RIP Ian and most of us will see you later on the other side

Sad news - Condolences to the family and close friends.

i have no words

Wow.....how horrible. I'm sorry for all involved including friends and family.

Brett

Horrible. Very sad News. Condolence to his Family. Rest in Peace

Sorry to hear such tragic news and condolences to the family.

unbelievable - what a tragic loss to the community as a whole - there is nobody on the planet that knows chewore like ian and very few with as much experience and knowledge of big game hunting - prayers for his family -

Terribly sad..

Wow, just wow!! What can be said? Our thoughts and prayers are with his friends and family and also the client and tracker. I imagine they will carry this incident for some time.

This is very sad news. Ian was a great hunter and a wonderful person. I know that he had a very close call with a cow elephant a few years ago. The only small consolation is that he died doing what he loved.

What a great shame.

Arjun Reddy
Hunters Networks

Dammit.

Just horrible news.

Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

My God, no! I never met the man, but he was one of my favorite PHs to watch on all the hunting shows. He seemed like such a NICE guy and would have loved to have hunted with him one day.

Events like this makes one wonder that God, is not only indifferent, but often-times cruel. Dave, please keep us informed and my deepest condolences to his family. jorge

Very sad news. Best to his family and friends.

Very sorry to hear this, may he rest in peace and prayers to all of his family and friends

We are losing many many PHs lately ,and many more injured ...RIP MY FRIEND

Another very sad day, RIP Ian. God bless your family. Dave let us know where, and when we can help.

Butch

Terrible. Condolences to his family.

I have hunted with Ian, I've had him yell at me more than once, and I've had him ask me to help out when he needed legs and another gun - he made me a better hunter and a better person......

So sorry to hear

Tragic news and my prayers go out to his family.
I want to believe that Ian died doing what he loved to do. Small consolation to the loss of a great man.

So sorry to hear this. RIP Ian

quote:

Originally posted by surefire7:
First Owain, and now Ian. This is terribly sad. Our hearts go out to the family and Chifuti. We are stunned.

My sentiments exactly. Thoughts and prayers to his family and friends.

Terrible tragedy. Condolences to all the family and friends of his. He always had time to talk at shows, and seemed to be one of the great ones to hunt with. He'll be missed.

This is very hard to believe and accept. Ian was so much fun to be around. He will be missed by a great many people. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family. Rest In Peace shamwari.

Wow this is terrible news. Gibbo was one of the living legends of our sport. My sincerest condolences to his family.