Roger Gower, 37, was killed after being shot while flying a helicopter over a Tanzanian game reserve
A British pilot was killed by elephant poachers when they shot at his helicopter in Tanzania, it emerged last night.
Roger Gower was taking part in an operation to catch the gang in a game reserve next to the Serengeti National Park.
The poachers had already killed two elephants when Mr Gower, 37, saw a third elephant which had only just been slaughtered, said colleagues at the conservation group he was working for.
The vehicle crashed while it was tracking a group of elephant poachers near the Serengeti National Park'
When he turned around to fly over the elephant’s body again to look for signs of the poachers, a man appeared and shot at the helicopter.
‘The bullet that hit Roger cut through the floor of the helicopter, through his leg, part of his body and shoulder and hit his face, before going through the roof of the helicopter,’ said Pratik Patel, a close friend working on the same anti-poaching operation.
‘It was from a heavy calibre gun – probably the same gun that they used to kill the elephant.’
A second man who was in the helicopter with Mr Gower managed to bring it down.
I FEEL SO SAD'' BUT IM SURE OUR NEW RAIS WILL MAKE SURE WAHUSIKA AU MHUSIKA ATATIWA MBARONI SOON''
I just PRAY FOR NCHI YANGU KUJULIKANA ULIMWENGUNI 'BUT NOT IN BAD THINGS LIKE THIS'' ONLY FOR GOOD THINGS'' I LOVE TANZANIA I LOVE ENGLAND ''GOD BLESS HIZI NCHI ZIENDELEE KUWA NA AMANI NA UPENDO ''AMEN''
TUMECHOTA NA KUMIMINA KUTOKA DM ILI MJIONEE'' AGAIN POLENI SANA MY PRAYERS TO MR GOWER'S FAMILY ''
MBUTA NANGA BLOG'
Shocking pictures were posted on Facebook last night including this one of the pilot's blood-stained chair''
Mr Gower, who trained as an accountant, was working with the Friedkin Conservation Fund in Tanzania'
The Foreign Office has confirmed it is providing support to the victim's family
Last night, shocking pictures of the helicopter were posted on Facebook. They showed several bullet holes, including one through Mr Gower’s bloodstained seat.
Dan Friedkin, chairman of the Friedkin Conservation Fund, who Mr Gower was working with, released a statement last night saying: ‘
On Friday, we lost our colleague Roger Gower who was killed in the fight against elephant poaching in Tanzania.
On Friday, we lost our colleague Roger Gower who was killed in the fight against elephant poaching in Tanzania.
'We are profoundly saddened by the loss of our dear friend. This tragic event again highlights the appalling risk and cost of protecting Tanzania’s wildlife.’
Mr Gower trained as an accountant in London and became a helicopter pilot in 2004. Before working in Tanzania, he flew from neighbouring Kenya, working for safaris and excursions.
The Foreign Office said: ‘We are providing assistance to the family at this difficult time.’
I FEEL SO SAD'' BUT IM SURE OUR NEW RAIS WILL MAKE SURE WAHUSIKA AU MHUSIKA ATATIWA MBARONI SOON''
I just PRAY FOR NCHI YANGU KUJULIKANA ULIMWENGUNI 'BUT NOT IN BAD THINGS LIKE THIS'' ONLY FOR GOOD THINGS'' I LOVE TANZANIA I LOVE ENGLAND ''GOD BLESS HIZI NCHI ZIENDELEE KUWA NA AMANI NA UPENDO ''AMEN''
TUMECHOTA NA KUMIMINA KUTOKA DM ILI MJIONEE'' AGAIN POLENI SANA MY PRAYERS TO MR GOWER'S FAMILY ''
MBUTA NANGA BLOG'
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