Friend of LSON and African Professional Hunter Erwin Kotze died Tuesday, April 23, after being trampled by an elephant in northwestern Namibia.
Kotze, 27, was a PH for Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris.
LSON Founder David J. Sams, along with his daughter Lili, hunted with Thormahlen & Cochran Safaris in South Africa two years ago. Although not their main PH on the trip, the Sams got to know Kotze and had a great time with the young man at a recent Dallas Safari Club Convention.
According to The Hunting Report, Kotze was guiding a client while hunting desert elephant in the Kaokoland concession called Orupupa Conservancy. The hunting party had been tracking a bull since morning. Kotze stalked closer to evaluate the ivory. Something went wrong, and the animal charged him without warning. The elephant trampled Kotze, breaking his pelvis. Another PH in the party carried Kotze to the hunting vehicle and called for a medivac to meet them at a nearest airstrip. Unfortunately, Kotze died of internal injuries before reaching the airstrip.
Kotze was unmarried and is survived by his parents, Werner and Erna Kotze.
