JB and Luc’s hunt.

I am posting this on behalf of Buzz who has dropped JB and Luc off at the airport after their second half of their safari in Mozambique and is now off with fellow AR member Paul Machmeier for a double tuskless hunt in Chewore South.

As many of you have heard there was an unfortunate incident with an elephant cow that charged and knocked down Luc on JB’s elephant cow hunt in the Omay. We are grateful to those of you who did know, from refraining from posting until JB and Luc had returned to France and have had a chance to tell friends and family what actually happened and for them to see that they were fine. Below is Buzz’s factual account of what happened....

We were hunting double tuskless cow with JB . It was a bow hunt. The first day we followed a herd and no opportunity presented itself. The second day we followed a large herd for a couple of hours before catching up to them. There was a single tuskless that we intended to shoot. She was however on the left side of the group as they moved up a gully. We were on the right side, down wind and were stalking parallel with them hoping the tuskless would eventually come to the left side and into bow distance.

A tusked cow then spotted us and charged. I shouted her down at about 10 metres and she stopped and ran off, only to turn around and come again. I shouted but it was obvious she was not stopping. At about 5 meters though thick bush, I attempted a frontal brain shot, which failed to stop her. She barely missed me and JB/ trackers. I thought that she had missed us all and when she went down on her knees I thought that she was falling from the shot . She had in fact knocked Luc down and was going down on her knees as she tried to gore him and squash him with her forehead. When she lifted her head slightly I side brained her and she fortunately fell off Luc.


Luc shortly after the incident


Tusked cow with JB



The incident happened at 10 o’clock. At 10:30 having made Luc as comfortable as possible I radioed Eddy who phoned Charmain in the office from my sat phone to organize MARS (Medical Air Rescue Services). Kirsty went to Avenues Clinic to make sure that a specialist was on standby for Luc and that a room was ready for him.

In the meantime I ran to the road where Eddy was waiting with several villagers who helped with cutting in a road to Luc and JB. The drive out which was 2.6 km to the hunting road in a straight line was very hard on Luc. From there was a further 2 hours to Wadzi airstrip.


MARS in action

On our arrival MARS were waiting for us with doctor and nurse and had everything from oxygen to blood etc. They were terrific. After stabilizing Luc, putting him on a drip and oxygen and a good dose of morphine they set off to Harare where they were met by an ambulance and taken to Avenues Clinic where doctor and rooms etc were all organized.

Luc stayed for a further 6 days in hospital. His injuries were a collapsed lung and several broken ribs. After draining 2 litres of blood from the lung and being satisfied that the lung was operating efficiently Luc was let out of hospital. Both JB and Luc had only great things to say about the medical treatment that Luc received in Avenues. So much so, that they felt that they would not have had the same even in Paris which was encouraging news for Zimbabweans.

Luc insisted on going to Mozambique for our hippo / croc hunt which was our second part of the hunt . With a make shift chair and plank to protect Luc’s ribs, he and JB shot two massive crocs (Luc 15 ft and JB 14ft) and two big hippo bulls.


Luc's 15ft croc


JB and crew with 14ft croc

I know JB will put a much more detailed report on as soon as he has time. Luc was indeed a very lucky man and if it was not for a camera strap and French passport, and the fact that she was a tusked cow as opposed to a tuskless the story may well have had a disastrous end. I will leave that to JB to explain.

Lastly I have to mention that Luc has the determination and pain tolerance of an old “dugga boy”! I certainly know of no one who had his experience and injuries who would have insisted on continuing with the safari and maintaining his sense of humour right through from just after the trampling to when I said goodbye at the airport. One comment of his comes to mind, when we were in hospital and he was told he had a collapsed lung. With a very concerned look on his face he said that “what worries me the most about a collapsed lung is that should I fall off the boat while hunting croc and hippo I may struggle to float!”

JB and Luc as always were such a pleasure and when the above happened they showed their true colours and for that I am very grateful and we all look forward to a less dramatic safari together next year. Cheers buzz

WOW! I'm glad it wasn't any worse. I hope you have a speedy recovery Luc. You sound like one tough SOB!

Luc is one tough son-of-a-gun for sure.
Leaving to hunt a tuskless, myself, in 10 days, I'm glad to hear how efficient MARS is.

Buzz, all I can say is WOW!

Glad everything turned out ok.

Mad Dog

Wow. Luc's mind set and will to survive has a great deal to do with his recovery. He is a man to be admired.

It is the year of the elephant.

Luc,

Best wishes for a full and speedy recovery. Congratulations on the huge croc.

hollyshit, well glad no one went to greener pastures and that Luc can tell the tale

I am always sad to hear of anyone getting hurt on a hunting, but it could have been worse.

My hat is off to Luc, and wish him a complete and speedy recovery.

With that kind of determination, I am sure he will recover quickly, but please add my best wishes that he heals as rapidly as possible.

My best wishes and a get-well-soon message to Luc. I hope you recover fully soon! I will add to what others have said... Luc is one tough SOB to continue hunting after that incident. Hats off and salute!

Best wishes to Luc for a quick recovery with the least possible pain.

Heckova way to get a hair raising hunting story! Glad the ending was as good as possible.

WOW! Best of luck to Luc on recovery. SOunds liek as bad as it was- it could have been much worse, and things were handled perfectly...

Best wishes for a complete recovery for Luc. Sounds like Luc is like a Timex, takes a licking and keeps on ticking. Hope the elephants calm down before I get over there. If you are hunting between now and October, encourage the elephants to think happy thoughts, to relax, to repress their inner anger, . . . .

I just got back from Chirisa last Weds. and this was the big item in camp, all the P.H.'s were taliking about this.

You would not believe the gossip and all the different stories. It was kinda like AR!

I'm glad to hear it all came out well.

Buzz thanks for the news.

Wow. That is old school toughness.

Now I have to permamently retire my french jokes. He just disproved them... all of them.

Glad to hear that all is well that ends well.

This is just another example of why I bow hunt with a double rifle!!!

JW

Luc: You are one tough, dedicated hunter! Congratulations on your trophies and on your tenacity!! Best wishes for a complete recovery!

quote:

“what worries me the most about a collapsed lung is that should I fall off the boat while hunting croc and hippo I may struggle to float!”

What a great sense of humor!!!!! Sorry to hear about the unfortunate incident! I wish Luc a speady recovery!!!

Brett

Sorry to hear the bad news and hope he gets over it asap.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. ERNEST, WATCH YOUR SIX on that cow elephant hunt buddy!!! jorge

Hers to a speedy recovery! Sounds like everyone responded very professionaly.

Thanks for your kind words and your affection.

Luc isn't speaking English and it was fun to see him struggling with the doctors and nurses when alone in the hospital in Harare. A veterinary could have been better for him, as a veterinary doesn't question and needs no answer.
Luc is still in pain but life is even better for him as he has had the best safari one can dream of. On elephant hunt he was just tagging along with me but got all the adrenaline we were looking for.
Thanks to his strong complexion and exceptionnal high morale and humour, he untertained us a lot.
Eventually he got what he was for a nice hippo bull and a fantastic croc.
He was just scared of sinking in Mozambique as he mainly used a boat and the plug in his ribcage wasn't trustworthy.
He has a great story to tell, unfortunately everybody in France considers him the best liar in Europe.
I am preparing the report that will be posted in a couple of days.
thanks
jb

That old cow had Luc by the "short and curlys" there for a bit!! Glad it turned out to be "minor" injuries instead of the alternative!

Glad to hear he was well spirited enough after the hospital stay to pluck up and go smack a big flattie and a couple of big ol hippo bulls!! I like that kind of pluck in a guy!

quote:

He has a great story to tell, unfortunately everybody in France considers him the best liar in Europe.

I look forward to the full report. Hell of a tale. Glad it worked out.

Hello JB

I am sorry to hear about Luc, but glad to know that both of you are ok and that in spite of everything both of you had a good hunt.

Give luc my regards and best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Regards
Aziz

quote:

Originally posted by JudgeG:
Luc is one tough son-of-a-gun for sure.
Leaving to hunt a tuskless, myself, in 10 days, I'm glad to hear how efficient MARS is.

quote:

Originally posted by Saeed:
I am always sad to hear of anyone getting hurt on a hunting, but it could have been worse.

My hat is off to Luc, and wish him a complete and speedy recovery.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeff Wemmer:
Glad to hear that all is well that ends well.

This is just another example of why I bow hunt with a double rifle!!!

JW

+1

I hope Luc heals quickly, he must be one tough hombre

Jean! I didn't realize the "jb" was you! Glad you are safe my friend! jorge

Very glad to hear that Luc is on the mend and that all turned out as it has.

Hats off to Luc for his indomitable spirit.

JPK

A very experienced DG hunter and AR member once told me:

"Sooner or later someone from AR is going to get hurt in one of those cow hunts..."

My hat off to Luc, a real tough man !!

L

I am relieved all are OK and Buzz thank you for an honest report...
Let us all be safe for the rest of the season...

Mike

This is no direct criticism at the people involved in this incident; but i firmly belive that sonner than later this confrontational style of elephant hunting is going to end up in a client or PH going home in a bag. In the past 2 weeks we have heard about 2 very close calls involving 2 very experienced PH's who certainly know their way around elephants. Like the man who took people for walks at hwange safari lodge and knew the elephants "well" - one day he tripped and fell and in spite of a lifetime of experience and a big gun his day was up. Not being negative but dont be shocked when we read about a death involving elephants that have been pushed and hunted in this manner

Well Jean-Bernard, it looks like you and Luc are going to have to give it to me straight at the next Rambouillet gathering. And I want the fully exagerated version, since it sounds like there's the basis for a great story.

Thank You all

Thanks Wink too, after all as usual you'll have to check and mend my report before I post it.

Here are 2 frames of Luc, beaming as usual...

Man is he lucky that elephant didn't just collapse on him when Buzz brained it.

Is this what is called "throwing the client under the bus"?

Yikes!
Hats off, Luc.
Buzz, I sure am glad Sue didn't see this before our hunt last month!

quote:

Both JB and Luc had only great things to say about the medical treatment that Luc received in Avenues. So much so, that they felt that they would not have had the same even in Paris which was encouraging news for Zimbabweans.

Or very discouraging news for Parisians!