Channel 4 star Fred Sirieix was caught up in a life-threatening ordeal while on a safari. The First Dates host was caught between an elephant and two rhinos during a nerve-wracking bushwalk in South Africa.
Life-Threatening Walk at Royal Madikwe Lodge
Fred was staying at The Royal Madikwe Lodge, a luxury hideaway near the border between South Africa and Botswana. During a walking safari, the trip took a life-threatening turn: "Well, we went on a bush walk, and basically what happened is we got sandwiched between one elephant and two rhinos. It's not a good place to be, let me tell you that," reports the Express.
He explained that creatures like elephants and rhinos are territorial and can become aggressive if they feel threatened or when humans invade their space: "Anyway, Ernie came into his own, the guide, because it's all about their training and knowing how to read an animal."
Guide Ernie's Heroic Response
"They don't want you there, the animals, they don't think that you should be there and they are very territorial. So if you're in front of the water or there or whatever, they just charge."
Ernie managed to frighten the animals away without resorting to firearms: "So he managed to scare them. Without using a gun or anything, just his arms and whatever he was doing, and they left."
Hospitality Hero Award
Fred explained why he selected guide Ernie to be the recipient of his Hospitality Hero Award in his new Channel 4 series, Fred's Ultimate Hotels, which follows Fred as he travels across the globe in search of extraordinary hotels. He also shines a light on those who go the extra mile for their guests and his Hospitality Hero Award acknowledges people who have left a lasting impact on him during his travels.
"Ernie in South Africa - the guy who saved my life in the bushwalk, where we had the near miss. He was crying like a baby."
"He's a mountain of a man, strong like an elephant, the heart of an elephant, he was crying, big tears, it was beautiful."
