Latest news with #RobertsonMweemba
Daily Mirror
09-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brit run down and killed in front of husband while jogging as driver questioned
A 35-year-old British woman, who has not been named, tragically died after being knocked down by a car while jogging with her husband in the town of Beaune, eastern France A British woman has been knocked down and killed abroad while out running with her husband. Police have taken the driver into custody. The unnamed 35-year-old was jogging in the town of Beaune in eastern France when the tragedy happened on Tuesday at around 8am. Emergency services rushed to the scene and paramedics, arriving 15 minutes later, found her in cardiac arrest. Sadly they were not able to resuscitate her and she died at the scene. A 45-year-old driver of the car is now being questioned by police having been taken into custody, reported local outlet Le Bien Public. The husband of the victim is understood to have been treated for shock but he was not injured. The Mirror has approached the Foreign Office for comment. Meanwhile, a British woman died following a powerful gas explosion at a bar in southern Spain, last month. The 56-year-old was one of two women killed after a gas canister exploded at the Casa Javi bar in San Pedro del Pinatar in Murcia on June 19. The unnamed Brit, who reportedly lived in the area, was going by the weekly market when she was struck by the blast. Their deaths were confirmed a week later by the local council in a post on X. The other fatal victim was the 38-year-old owner of the bar, a woman of Moroccan origin named Hind, who suffered severe burns. Both victims had been hospitalised following the incident which saw at least 15 other people injured. Local police, ambulances and firefighters rushed to the scene at around 12:23pm local time, following 25 calls from members of the public. And a tourist from the UK along with her friend have been killed by a charging elephant during a 'sunrise safari walk' in Zambia. At around 6am local time on Thursday, July 3, the victims, a 68-year-old and a 67-year-old, were attacked by a female elephant that was with a calf at South Luangwa National Park, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said. The two friends had been based at the Big Lagoon Bush Camp and had been enjoying an early morning walk to another part of the camp when the horror incident took place. Mr Mweemba said: "Two female tourists while taking a safari walk to a crossing point at Luangwa river spotted an elephant with a calf at a distance and diverted about 50m away, but within few minutes after diverting a tea bearer who is usually behind saw the elephant charging at them." The tea bearer reportedly shouted 'elephants' and as the two women turned around they saw it storming towards them at high speed. In a desperate bid to help the women, the safari guides who were with the group fired shots at the elephant. While the elephant was hit by the gunshots, the guides were unable to prevent the attack and both women died at the scene, police said. The pair "had spent four peaceful days immersed in nature's embrace. Their journey was meant to continue - but instead, we remember them for their courage, their curiosity, and their love for life's wild places", a local said. The bodies of the two women were taken to Mambwe District Hospital for mortuary services, awaiting further details. Their cause of death is yet to be formally confirmed.
IOL News
07-07-2025
- IOL News
Elephant rampage kills tourists
Two tourists have died after an elephant attack during a safari in a national park in eastern Zambia, the southern African country's police have said. Two tourists have died after an elephant attack during a safari in a national park in eastern Zambia, the southern African country's police have said. The incident happened on Thursday inside South Luangwa National Park, about 600km (370 miles) from the capital, Lusaka, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said in a statement published by local media. According to the statement, the tourists, Easton Janet Taylor, 68, from the UK and Alison Jean Taylor, 67, from New Zealand were part of a guided group when the female elephant that was with a calf charged at them. Safari guides accompanying the group had attempted to stop the elephant by firing shots, wounding the animal, but were unable to prevent the attack. Both elderly women died at the scene, the police commissioner stated.
7NEWS
05-07-2025
- 7NEWS
‘Thorough review' underway after charging elephant in Zambia kills New Zealand tourist and British tourist
A 'thorough review' is underway after two female tourists on a walking safari in Zambia were killed by a charging elephant trying to protect her calf. Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said the victims — 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the United Kingdom and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor from New Zealand — were attacked by the female elephant about 6am on Thursday, local time. A full investigation into their death at the South Luangwa National Park is now underway, Zambia's Ministry of Tourism confirmed. 'Zambia's national parks are globally renowned for offering exceptional and authentic wildlife experiences. 'However, we wish to remind all visitors that these experiences take place in wilderness settings where wildlife behaves unpredictably. 'Our thoughts are with the families and loved ones of the deceased during this difficult time.' The two women were staying at Big Lagoon Bush Camp in the Zambian national park, about 600km from the nation's capital Lusaka, and were on a safari walk to another part of the camp when the incident occurred. Safari guides, who were with the group, tried to stop the elephant and fired their guns at her, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said. The guides were unable to prevent the elephant's attack and both women died at the scene, police said. The elephant was hit and wounded by the gunshots. A spokesperson for New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson confirmed the New Zealand High Commission in Pretoria was providing consular assistance to the family. Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond aggressively to what they perceive as threats. Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate encounters with elephants in different parts of Zambia. In both cases, the tourists were also elderly women and were on a safari vehicle when they were attacked. Stream free on
Global News
04-07-2025
- Global News
U.K., N.Z. tourists killed by elephant in Zambia during walking safari
Two female tourists were killed by an elephant in Zambia on Thursday while on a walking safari in a national park, according to police. Eastern Province police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said the victims — 68-year-old Easton Janet Taylor from the U.K. and 67-year-old Alison Jean Taylor from New Zealand — were attacked and trampled by a female elephant that was with a calf. Safari guides who were with the group attempted to stop the elephant from charging at the women by firing shots at it, police said. 'They were moving to other camps when the elephant charged from behind. We are really sorry that we have lost our visitors,' Mweemba said. 'They both died on the spot.' The elephant was hit and wounded by the gunshots but the guides were unable to prevent the elephant's attack. Story continues below advertisement 'It is very difficult to control the animals and tourists like feeding them,' Mweemba added. It happened at the South Luangwa National Park in eastern Zambia, around 600 kilometres from the capital, Lusaka. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy Female elephants are very protective of their calves and can respond aggressively to what they perceive as threats. 0:42 79-year-old woman dead after elephant charges tour group in Zambia Last year, two American tourists were killed in separate encounters with elephants in different parts of Zambia. In March 2024, an American tourist was killed when a bull elephant charged the truck she was riding in Kafue National Park. Gail Mattson, 79, of Minnetonka, Minn., was with other tourists when the animal charged, flipping over the vehicle and killing her while injuring five others. In a separate attack in June 2024, another U.S. tourist was killed by an elephant in the Zambian city of Livingstone. Story continues below advertisement Officials said Juliana Gle Tourneau, 64, was killed when an elephant that was part of a herd the tourists were watching attacked their vehicle, threw Tourneau out and trampled her. She was part of a group that had stopped near the Maramba Cultural Bridge due to the traffic caused by the elephant herd near the bridge, they added. Zambian authorities have called on tourists to exercise extreme caution while observing wildlife around the country. In another incident in January of this year, a 22-year-old tourist was killed by an elephant at a sanctuary in Thailand after the animal turned on her while she was giving it a bath. Blanca Ojanguren García, from northwest Spain, was alongside her boyfriend at the Koh Yao Elephant Care Centre on Jan. 3 when the elephant attacked her. She was rushed to the local hospital, where she died. Elephants cause approximately 500 deaths per year, worldwide. — With files from Global News' Michelle Butterfield and The Associated Press
Daily Mirror
04-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Brit tourist brutally killed by charging elephant while on safari trip
The tragic incident happened while the two frinds were enjoying a sunrise walk to another part of the camp - safari guides tied to shoot the elephant but failed to stop the attack A British tourist and her friend have been killed by a charging elephant during a 'sunrise safari walk' in Zambia. At around 6am local time on Thursday July 3 the victims, a 68-year-old and a 67-year-old, were attacked by a female elephant that was with a calf at South Luangwa National Park, Eastern Province Police Commissioner Robertson Mweemba said. The two friends had been based at the Big Lagoon Bush Camp and had been enjoying an early morning walk to another part of the camp when the horror incident took place. Mweemba said: "Two female tourists while taking a safari walk to a crossing point at Luangwa river spotted an elephant with a calf at a distance and diverted about 50m away, but within few minutes after diverting a tea bearer who is usually behind saw the elephant charging at them." The tea bearer reportedly shouted 'elephants' and as the two women turned around they saw it storming towards them at high speed. In a desperate bid to help the women escape alive the safari guides who were with the group fired shots at the elephant, reports MailOnline. While the elephant was hit by the gunshots, the guides were unable to prevent the attack and both women died at the scene, police said. The pair 'had spent four peaceful days immersed in nature's embrace. Their journey was meant to continue - but instead, we remember them for their courage, their curiosity, and their love for life's wild places', a local said. The bodies of the two women have been taken to Mambwe District Hospital for mortuary services, awaiting further details. Their cause of death is yet to be formerly confirmed. According to the South Luangwa National Park website, the region's "concentration of animals is some of the most dense in all of Africa". The site adds: "You don't have to travel to the most remote areas of the park to see some amazing animal sights. In fact, don't be surprised if a handful of elephants wander in and out of your camp, as they have a habit of making themselves welcome." This isn't the first time a tourist has been killed by an elephant in Zambia, last year an 80-year-old American woman died and another was injured when an aggressive bull elephant charged at a group on a safari at Kafue National Park in Zambia on Saturday, March 30. A shocking video taken from one of the people on the truck shows the elephant running along the vehicle as the group was moving. At some point, the vehicle stops, and the elephant can be seen aggressively approaching the truck. The animal immediately charges at the group lifting the truck with its trunk and turning it over within seconds. A man can be heard yelling "Ey, ey!" apparently trying to scare the animal away until the phone shooting the video seems to fall on the ground and the screen goes black. The company released a statement acknowledging the incident and said that although the driver was trained and experienced, "terrain and vegetation" were blocking the truck's way and forced the guide to stop. The Mirror has contacted South Luangwa National Park for comment.
