via Saying ‘sorry’ saves couple from elephant attack August 11, 2014
A YOUNG Zimbabwean couple has survived being gored and trampled by elephants — and they say it was all down to the power of one word: Sorry.
Hayley Simleit (28) and Dylan Taylor (27) were walking in the bush near the safari lodge they help run in Chirundu, western Zimbabwe, when they were suddenly attacked by a young bull elephant.
As the elephant straddled the already injured Simleit, bending its head down ready to gore her, her fiance leapt on its head in an amazing act of bravery. But then the animal turned on him. Gored in the neck, with six fractured ribs and convinced he was about to die, Taylor shouted over and over again: “Sorry.”
“I don’t know why I said that word,” the former Southampton, UK, resident said. “But there was definitely a break, a change at that point.”
The couple had taken their dogs for a walk on July 20 near Tiger Safaris Fishing Camp on the Zambezi when they saw a young male elephant on the roadside and quickened their pace. Young bulls are the most dangerous elephants in Africa, liable to charge without warning. This is what the animal did, making straight for Simleit. As she ran she fell, spraining her ankle. Seconds later, the bull was on top of her. “He was kneeling on my arm,” Simleit told The Scotsman.
Taylor threw a stick. Then, thinking Simleit’s back was broken, he did the unthinkable: flung himself at the elephant.
As the elephant turned on Taylor, Simleit managed to run. Without knowing why, Taylor started to speak to the elephant. Just one word — sorry. That was when the tempo of the attack changed.
— The Scotsman
COMMENTS
We certainly have a lot to be sorry for to do with our elephants. Who can say sorry 100,000 times? But they wont say sorry to the Matabele so whenever would they say sorry to the Matabeleland elephants? As if the government cares
Just as a matter of intrest, tuskless elephant cows are without question the most aggressive and unpredictable, followed by cows with calves and then your bulls in musuth.Worst thing to do is run away, scream and shout and wave arms will usually startle a young bull and turn him around after a vigourous head shaking…Glad they are ok, and no better word than SORRY!
a certain man of God spoke to a raging bull and asked for sorry because he wanted to attend a sick call. Yes you can speak to nature. Adam used to do so. Jesus did. William Branham did. Just go back to the faith that was once delivered to the saints. There is power in speaking , especially inspired speaking
Call me a sceptic – I am! If this young bull was serious he would have finished what he started. I think these people are looking to earn money by sensationalising a non-event.
This sounds like wrong place wrong time all wild animals are unpredictable weather it’s a mouse or an elephant. I do believe they where walking in an restricted area with a dog not on a lead
Glad u r alive as i nearly met my Waterloo with a huge elephant near Chirundu
( elephant ) bull sh t
know this couple and have seen them since this incident, save your bitterness for someone else Angela..this reporter appears to have concentrated on one word which is misleading, thank goodness they survived..