Post by dakota on Feb 9, 2007 17:31:12 GMT -5
Wildlife park sued after tourist gored by elephant
ROB CRILLY
A BRITISH woman who was gored by an elephant during a luxury safari is to sue one of Kenya's most exclusive wilderness hideaways for failing to warn her about the danger from wild animals.
Wendy Martin, now 47, was left for dead after an early morning "bush run" in June 2000. She was staying at Il Ngwesi lodge set amid the 22,000 acres of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, where Prince William has been a frequent visitor.
"I love Kenya, I loved living there. But if these places are taking a lot of money from tourists, then they owe a duty of care to these visitors," she said from her home in Surrey yesterday. Mrs Martin lived in Kenya for four years while her husband worked at the British High Commission. It has taken this long for the case to make its way through Kenya's judicial system.
Yesterday, Mrs Martin recounted how she and two friends went for an early- morning bush run with an experienced guide. But as they neared the end of the run, their guide held up his hand.
A gentle rustling in bushes gave way to the trumpeting of an angry elephant. The group scattered, and Mrs Martin tripped as she tried to avoid the charging mother trying to protect its calf. "I was rolled over and over, and ploughed through the bush," she said.
"I was skewered on the tusks. One went through my back taking out a kidney, my intestines were forced out and my right leg was skewered." The elephant then knelt on Mrs Martin, crushing her pelvis. "I'm lucky to be alive."
Yesterday a lawyer for Ian Craig, the director of the resort, said Mrs Martin had to take responsibility for her decision to go out on foot. "She knew this was a wildlife zone and indicated in her evidence that they went for a wilderness experience," said Stephen Mwenesi.
This article: news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=204922007
'Some people are born elephants, some have elephants thrust upon them.'
ROB CRILLY
A BRITISH woman who was gored by an elephant during a luxury safari is to sue one of Kenya's most exclusive wilderness hideaways for failing to warn her about the danger from wild animals.
Wendy Martin, now 47, was left for dead after an early morning "bush run" in June 2000. She was staying at Il Ngwesi lodge set amid the 22,000 acres of Lewa Wildlife Conservancy, where Prince William has been a frequent visitor.
"I love Kenya, I loved living there. But if these places are taking a lot of money from tourists, then they owe a duty of care to these visitors," she said from her home in Surrey yesterday. Mrs Martin lived in Kenya for four years while her husband worked at the British High Commission. It has taken this long for the case to make its way through Kenya's judicial system.
Yesterday, Mrs Martin recounted how she and two friends went for an early- morning bush run with an experienced guide. But as they neared the end of the run, their guide held up his hand.
A gentle rustling in bushes gave way to the trumpeting of an angry elephant. The group scattered, and Mrs Martin tripped as she tried to avoid the charging mother trying to protect its calf. "I was rolled over and over, and ploughed through the bush," she said.
"I was skewered on the tusks. One went through my back taking out a kidney, my intestines were forced out and my right leg was skewered." The elephant then knelt on Mrs Martin, crushing her pelvis. "I'm lucky to be alive."
Yesterday a lawyer for Ian Craig, the director of the resort, said Mrs Martin had to take responsibility for her decision to go out on foot. "She knew this was a wildlife zone and indicated in her evidence that they went for a wilderness experience," said Stephen Mwenesi.
This article: news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=204922007
'Some people are born elephants, some have elephants thrust upon them.'
