A 79-year-old grandmother from Minnesota died during a safari in Zambia after a bull elephant charged and flipped the truck she was travelling in.
Dream holiday turns fatal
Gail Mattson had long dreamed of going on safari to see elephants, lions and other wildlife. She embarked on the trip with a friend, telling loved ones it would be her last big overseas journey. She had travelled extensively, visiting Asia and Europe, and her family was planning a large party for her 80th birthday.
Friends John Longabaugh and Brenda Biggs described her as a "big traveller" and said a safari in Africa had "always been on her bucket list". She was a church volunteer and enjoyed playing bridge and golf.
Attack on game drive
On March 30, 2024, Mattson joined a game drive. During the excursion, a bull elephant charged at the truck. The driver reportedly stopped the vehicle in an attempt to halt the elephant, but the bull hooked its horns into the truck and rolled it several times.
In a recording, someone can be heard saying "oh my goodness" and "it's coming fast". Six people were in the truck; four suffered minor injuries, a fifth was treated in South Africa, but Mattson suffered fatal injuries.
Company and family statements
Keith Vincent, CEO of the safari company, said: "Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but sadly in this instance the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he could not move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough."
Mattson's daughter, Rona Wells, wrote on Facebook: "Sadly she lost her life in a tragic accident while on her dream adventure." Her son, Blake Vetter, told the Star Tribune: "This is more than about a little old lady that got killed by an elephant. She lived an extraordinary life." Mattson had worked as a mortgage company loan officer before retiring at 55 and planned a skydive with her son upon returning from the trip.
