A safari-park owner in South Africa who once said he would rather be killed by an elephant than shoot one has died after being trampled by an elephant at his wildlife reserve.
Gary Freeman, 65, was leading a small group of tourists at Klaserie Private Nature Reserve on April 9 when the elephant reportedly charged at him during the tour.
According to eyewitness accounts, Freeman attempted to break the animal’s charge but did not use his firearm.
“Gary tried to break the charge, but he never fired a shot. The elephant was very quickly on him, and it was, as you imagine, not pleasant,” a source familiar with the incident said.
The source added that the animal overpowered him quickly.
“There is nothing anyone can do to stop six tons of angry elephant. Fortunately, it was all over quickly,” the source said.
Tourists who were part of the group reportedly assisted in placing Freeman into a vehicle in an attempt to rush him to medical care, but he was pronounced dead shortly after.
“He had succumbed to his dreadful injuries,” the source added.
Tributes have since poured in, with visitors recalling Freeman’s deep respect for wildlife, particularly elephants. One former visitor, Judy Connors of Johannesburg, said he often expressed admiration for the animals he worked with.
“In the past, we have heard Gary speak of his deep respect and love for the elephants. He said he would rather be killed by an elephant than shoot one,” she wrote in a Facebook tribute.
Freeman, who originally trained as a mechanical engineer, spent more than three decades working in wildlife conservation and safari operations. He co-founded the Klaserie reserve in 1969, part of a large conservation initiative that merged multiple farms into one of South Africa’s biggest Big Five game reserves.
Police in Limpopo have opened an inquest into the incident, while wildlife experts are assessing whether the elephant poses an ongoing risk to visitors and staff.
Although elephant attacks remain relatively rare, reports estimate that between 300 and 600 people are killed by elephants annually in incidents across Africa and Asia.