A tour guide died protecting his group during a photographic walking tour in Zimbabwe's Hwange National Park in 2015. Quinn Swales, 40, managed to save the tourists but later succumbed to his injuries.
Incident Details
According to a Facebook statement from the company operating camps in the reserve, Swales had toured the park numerous times. The group of seven was walking along the edge of an open area when they spotted a pride of lions. One adult male stood up and moved toward the group.
Swales acted calmly, briefing guests on the animal's behavior and instructing them to get behind him and not move. The group set off a “bear banger” – a loud noise-making device – and the lion retreated. However, it soon returned to attack.
Fatal Charge
The statement said Swales bore the full brunt of the charge and, unable to fire his rifle due to the speed of the attack, stopped the lion by placing himself in harm's way. Suffering bites to his shoulder and neck, Swales died at the scene. The shouts and noises from the guests eventually drove the lion away, allowing the tourists to call for help.
Previous Tragedy
Hwange National Park had earlier seen tragedy in 2015 when Cecil the lion, a 13-year-old tourist favorite monitored by Oxford University researchers, was killed in a suspected illegal hunt. American trophy hunter Walter Palmer killed Cecil with an arrow and later a gun. The killing sparked global outrage, but Palmer was cleared of all charges.
The Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority emphasizes that visitors must remain in vehicles, obey curfews, maintain safe distances, and refrain from feeding wildlife to ensure safety.
