A Minnesota tourist killed by an elephant in Zambia was an adventurer, family says

MINNETONKA, Minn. — Relatives described an American tourist who was killed in Africa when a bull elephant attacked the truck she was riding in as an adventurer who loved to travel.

They identified her as Gail Mattson, 79, of Minnetonka, Minnesota. She was on a game drive in a Zambian national park with other tourists when the animal attacked, flipped the vehicle and killed her, a safari company said Thursday. The attack also injured five others on March 30 in Kafue National Park, which at 22,400 square kilometers is one of Africa’s largest animal reserves.

“Sadly, she lost her life in a tragic accident on her dream adventure,” her daughter Rona Wells said in a Facebook post.

Her son, Blake Vetter, told the Star Tribune of Minneapolis that “this is more than about a little old lady who was killed by an elephant. She lived an extraordinary life while raising two children on her own.

According to safari company Wilderness, the “aggressive” bull elephant unexpectedly charged the truck, which was carrying six guests and a guide on a morning excursion through wild areas.

Vetter told the newspaper that his mother loved adventure trips to China and other destinations. Before retiring at age 55, she was a loan officer for a mortgage company. She split her time between Minneapolis and Phoenix, golfing three to four times a week, he said.

“We went skydiving when she came back,” Vetter said.

Although many game reserves in southern Africa are teeming with dangerous animals such as elephants and lions, such an attack is rare.

Keith Vincent, CEO of the safari company, said the terrain made it impossible for the vehicle to get away.

“Our guides are all extremely well trained and experienced, but unfortunately in this case the terrain and vegetation was such that the guide’s route became blocked and he was unable to move the vehicle out of harm’s way quickly enough,” he said.