Soldier Matthew Talbot, of Great Barr, tried to escape elephant charge,
inquest told
BBC
October 18, 2021
See link https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-58960654 for
photo.
A soldier was attacked by an elephant in Africa as he tried to climb a tree
to escape from it, an inquest heard.
Coldstream Guardsman Matthew Talbot, 22, suffered fatal injuries on an
anti-poaching patrol in Liwonde National Park, Malawi, in May 2019.
His comrade L/Sgt Robert Padgham told Oxford Coroner's Court the lead
ranger gave a signal warning about the animal.
"We started to back off and... it came charging through so we just
dispersed, like we were taught," he said.
Patrol leader L/Sgt Padgham gave evidence via video-link of the attack on 5
May which killed Gdsm Talbot, who was from Great Barr, West Midlands.
"At about 10:00 hours we were patrolling through elephant grass, which is
roughly seven feet in height and visibility is limited," he said.
"An elephant appeared roughly five metres to my right."
The inquest was told both soldiers and three park rangers began running in
different directions as Gdsm Talbot attempted to climb a "prominent branch"
but was seen being "thrown" and "knocked" into the air.
The witness described the elephant's actions as a sweeping motion with its
head.
L/Sgt Padgham said he had then thrown a firecracker to successfully scare
off a group of elephants.
He described how he immediately began first aid as he went to the soldier
and "dragged him into the cover of that tree".
'Personal Strength'
He said soldiers on anti-poaching patrols had been taught to fire warning
shots to scare away animals, only as a last resort.
But he added: "In my mind personally, if an attack like that happened and I
was in a position to, I would have fired a warning shot."
However, he explained he did not want to fire after climbing into a tree
during the attack.
"The sharp shooter is quite long-barrelled." he said.
"I was hanging on the tree with one hand. I didn't want to fire a shot in
the direction where the animal was in case of hitting Matthew."
The court heard a report had identified the "leadership and personal
strength" of L/Sgt Padgham in moving Gdsm Talbot on a stretcher and
controlling a haemorrhage, which had been "initially life-saving".
The first day of the inquest was told Gdsm Talbot died from complications
of chest and soft tissue injuries.
The hearing, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-58960654
Soldier Matthew Talbot, of Great Barr, tried to escape elephant charge,
inquest told
BBC
October 18, 2021
See link <https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-58960654> for
photo.
A soldier was attacked by an elephant in Africa as he tried to climb a tree
to escape from it, an inquest heard.
Coldstream Guardsman Matthew Talbot, 22, suffered fatal injuries on an
anti-poaching patrol in Liwonde National Park, Malawi, in May 2019.
His comrade L/Sgt Robert Padgham told Oxford Coroner's Court the lead
ranger gave a signal warning about the animal.
"We started to back off and... it came charging through so we just
dispersed, like we were taught," he said.
Patrol leader L/Sgt Padgham gave evidence via video-link of the attack on 5
May which killed Gdsm Talbot, who was from Great Barr, West Midlands.
"At about 10:00 hours we were patrolling through elephant grass, which is
roughly seven feet in height and visibility is limited," he said.
"An elephant appeared roughly five metres to my right."
The inquest was told both soldiers and three park rangers began running in
different directions as Gdsm Talbot attempted to climb a "prominent branch"
but was seen being "thrown" and "knocked" into the air.
The witness described the elephant's actions as a sweeping motion with its
head.
L/Sgt Padgham said he had then thrown a firecracker to successfully scare
off a group of elephants.
He described how he immediately began first aid as he went to the soldier
and "dragged him into the cover of that tree".
'Personal Strength'
He said soldiers on anti-poaching patrols had been taught to fire warning
shots to scare away animals, only as a last resort.
But he added: "In my mind personally, if an attack like that happened and I
was in a position to, I would have fired a warning shot."
However, he explained he did not want to fire after climbing into a tree
during the attack.
"The sharp shooter is quite long-barrelled." he said.
"I was hanging on the tree with one hand. I didn't want to fire a shot in
the direction where the animal was in case of hitting Matthew."
The court heard a report had identified the "leadership and personal
strength" of L/Sgt Padgham in moving Gdsm Talbot on a stretcher and
controlling a haemorrhage, which had been "initially life-saving".
The first day of the inquest was told Gdsm Talbot died from complications
of chest and soft tissue injuries.
The hearing, which is expected to last two weeks, continues.
https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-birmingham-58960654