S.A. PH Saves Client, Shoots Lion At Two Yards, Gets Bitten

I cannot upload the relevant video here, am sending it to members' personal emails because there is much to be learned from it.

A group consisting of a senior PH, a client hunter, a junior PH, a tracker, a still camera operator and a video camera operator is in the group. They approach an unseen objective (maybe a bait?). The senior PH is seen guiding the client's hold on his rifle towards the objective. Then the junior PH says calmly in Afrikaans "Hier kom hy" (he's coming). One second later an object is seen about 60 yards away and two seconds later the lion is on them. The speed of the attack is incredible.

The charge is not in a straight line at them, but the lion takes a straight avenue through the trees which effectively shields him from the shooters and at the last moment swings left into them. It appears as if the angled, crossing shots into the trees all missed.

The video camera operator can be excused for some self preservation moves. From what can be gathered was that the senior PH went into the charge and fired one shot which was fatal but the lion still rammed him and took hold of his left shoulder. The junior PH is seen struggling to extract a very tightened empty case, which leaves some logical questions. All the time I see the lion's tensed out legs in the video and want to shout: "He is going to get up, shoot him again!", and then the junior PH asks somebody (maybe the client) and two shots shakes the lion. The junior PH radios the property owner asking him to make contact.

I see and hear shock but nobody loses it in panicky flight. The senior PH feels no pain yet, answering the junior PH who asks where the lion had bitten him.

There is a great deal to be learned about pre-emptive and in situ hazards and their associated risks identification and mitigation in this hunting incident, most of which are valid no matter where or what you hunt. Please view the video a number of times and share your thoughts here in this post.