In Memoriam - Another Tragedy Wayne Clark Killed by Buffalo

[Shallom]

A young professional gone too soon... He will be missed by many. Pole sana to the family!

SIMBA PROFESSIONAL HUNTERS ASSOCIATION (SPHA)
P. O. Box 1525 Arusha Tanzania sp.simba@yahoo.com

Reference: SPHA/MEMO/2012-001 July 12th, 2012.

Professional Hunters
Tanzania Tourist Hunting Sector
Countrywide

Dear Professionals,

RE: A TRAGEDY AND LOSS OF A PROFESSIONAL IN THE WILDS OF TANZANIA.

It is with sadness I report the loss of a young and talented Professional Hunter known as Wayne Clark. The details of the incident will be revealed and reported later by the team closest to him at the time. But for now we understand it was a buffalo attack up north.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. We wish them the wisdom and strength of love and solidarity during this testing time. We have lost a good man in the field and we ask all fellow professionals to celebrate and cherish his dedication and servitude to the demanding and sometimes fatal call of the profession. He bid farewell doing what he was destined to do and we wish him well on is onward safari...

For those who were lucky to know Wayne and spend time with him, he gave his all. We cannot do otherwise, but we should take caution and remember that we are always in the line of fire in our profession. Enjoy your season, respect the game and stay professional.

A warrior has fallen but for a good cause and with a good fight. See you in the happy hunting grounds Wayne... Cheers from your fellow professionals.


Ryan Shallom
Executive Secretary

 

[sestoppelman]

Very sad. Rest in Peace.

 

[Rich219]

A terribly unfortunate event, my condolences go out to his family.

 

[Ole Bally]

If you knew Wayne, and have any nice pics of him please could you email them to donxcollage@gmail.com . This is being done by friends who are doing a collage of his life for his widow.thanks

 

[DOC-404]

A warrior has fallen but for a good cause and with a good fight. See you in the happy hunting grounds Wayne...

..in the shade of the big tree by the river..

 

[ChasingHemingway]

Does anyone have an update on how this all unfolded? Prayers and thoughts with all those involved.

dt

 

[Ole Bally]

Does anyone have an update on how this all unfolded? Prayers and thoughts with all those involved.

dt

His memorial service and wake is being held in Bulawayo on the weekend.
The facts as I personally have them are that he was gored by a wounded Buff in the groin area and later died of the injuries sustained. He did have time to talk to his father and wife I am told. I will enquire as to whether a more official statement can be published here.

 

[jepetto62]

I have heard from one of his close friend (another PH) that he actually died of internal bleeding that went undetected at first... Then, things started to go unexpectedly out of control while waiting to be air-lifted out of the field.

My thoughts to his family.

 

[chopperdan]

Just got back from Zim Lion Hunt with Jimba Safaris. I hunted with Wayne Clark last year on an elephant hunt. I went to the funeral in bulawayo last saturday and man was he a loved guy by all. At least 6-700 people were there and paid tribute. Wayne was a great man and husband and the hunting world has lost one of its very best. We did not see his tracker "charlie" in bulawayo, (who was with him at the time) and he would know everything. Hopefully we can find out exactly what happened so that we can learn from this terribly tragedy.

 

[ccaffey]

Wayne Clark

OK, with all do respect, yes the first shot is critical....and with DG, especially buffalo, so are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th....shots! This was the fifth buffalo taken on the hunt. EVERY SINGLE ONE required multiple shots. They are tough aggressive animals. in my opinion, no amount of practice would have prevented this.

This was a tragedy. The first shot was a heart shot that should have dropped this Buff. The second shot was well-placed before the Buff disappeared into the high grass. Wayne AND the hunter went in to follow-up the buffalo. And, the buffalo charged. Either or both could have been wounded or killed.

Wayne was a friend and I will miss him. The tragedy here is that NONE of the trackers or game scout had any first aid training. I believe, with just a little basic first aid, Wayne might have survived. Wayne died because of a loss of blood.

And yes, I was there.

If this too was the result of following wounded game, I hope this tragedy is driving home a point to all of the DG hunters out there. That first shot is critical! Practice, practice, then practice some more. Your entire safari teams safety is dependent on you placing your shot where you are suppose to. It's your PH and trackers job to put you into the position to make this shot, it is only you that makes the ultimate decision to pull the trigger.

Prayers said for Wayne's family. If anyone get's information on a fund set up for the family, please share with AH readers!

 

[ccaffey]

ndio, pole sana!

Wayne was an incredible person, a true PH, and a friend. i will miss him!

 

[ccaffey]

Charlie was not with Wayne at the time of this incident.

 

[BRICKBURN]

OK, with all do respect, yes the first shot is critical....and with DG, especially buffalo, so are the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th....shots! This was the fifth buffalo taken on the hunt. EVERY SINGLE ONE required multiple shots. They are tough aggressive animals. in my opinion, no amount of practice would have prevented this.

This was a tragedy. The first shot was a heart shot that should have dropped this Buff. The second shot was well-placed before the Buff disappeared into the high grass. Wayne AND the hunter went in to follow-up the buffalo. And, the buffalo charged. Either or both could have been wounded or killed.

Wayne was a friend and I will miss him. The tragedy here is that NONE of the trackers or game scout had any first aid training. I believe, with just a little basic first aid, Wayne might have survived. Wayne died because of a loss of blood.

And yes, I was there.

If some basic first aid might have saved this mans life, that is a tragedy.

 

[BenAfricanPH]

I didn't know him, but my deepest sympathy to his friends and his family