A video that became very popular shows the time when a wild elephant attacked a tourist vehicle during an African safari, resulting in the death of a Minnesota woman.
The woman was Gail Mattson, and she was 79 years old. She was from Hopkins, Minnesota. by KARE11.
You can view the video below, but be warned that it is disturbing as it captures the moment when the male elephant charged at the vehicle that was carrying the tourists and a guide, causing the vehicle to tip over. Some news sites mentioned that Mattson's age was 80, but online records show that she would have turned 80 in July.
Here is the important information you need to know:
Relatives posted pictures of 'Our Wonderful Mom's Trip to South Africa' on social media, mentioning that Gail Mattson was on 'Her Dream Adventure'.
A family member named Rona Wells shared a collection of Mattson's pictures on Facebook and confirmed her death.
“We want to share some incredible pictures of our amazing Mom’s trip to South Africa with her friends and family. Sadly, she lost her life in a tragic accident while on her dream adventure. I hope these pictures bring some joy to those who loved her. Rest in peace, Mom. We love you and will miss you. ❤️❤️❤️🙏🙏🙏” she wrote.
A man expressed in the comments, “We are so sorry for your loss. We have been fortunate to get to know Gail and grew to love her.”
A woman replied, “I’m so sorry. Your Mom was a good friend. She was always up for anything. She was brave and fun. I will miss her. Rest in power dear friend.” Another woman wrote, “She was visibly thrilled with her latest adventure as can be seen. Such a zeal for life! Praying for comfort and guidance for all of you.”
On Facebook, Mattson provided her full name as Gail Ziegler Mattson and stated that she studied at Minot State University and was from Garrison, North Dakota. Her profile picture features her with a young child.
KSTP reported that Mattson split her time between Minnesota and Arizona. John Longabauth, a friend, told the television station, “She had told us that this safari was going to be her last big adventure. Because her birthday is in the summer — I think she was going to be 80, and she felt like she would start slowing down. To be honest, I don’t know if she’d slow down or not. But at least you wouldn’t be traveling as far, probably.”
The Tour Operator in Zambia Said the Guide’s Route ‘Became Blocked’ as the Elephant Charged at the Vehicle
According to NBC News, Mattson died after a “charging elephant” flipped over her vehicle at a Zambia national park.
The network described the animal as “aggressive” and said the tour operator Wilderness confirmed that the vehicle had six tourists and a guide inside it when the elephant attacked.
The attack took place “on a game drive at the Kafue National Park in western Zambia,” NBC News reported.
The tour operator’s CEO, Keith Vincent, informed NBC News that the “guides are all extremely well trained and experienced.”
“Unfortunately, in this case, the terrain and vegetation made it impossible for the guide to move the vehicle out of danger quickly enough,” he told the network.
According to NBC, the cause of Mattson’s death was unclear, and another woman was also injured and taken to a hospital.