Minnesota grandmother dies in Zambia safari elephant attack

Gail Mattson, a 79-year-old Minnesota grandmother, died after a bull elephant attacked the safari truck she was traveling in near Zambia, overturning the vehicle. Six people were on board; four sustained minor injuries and a fifth received hospital treatment in South Africa. Descriptions of the elephant as aggressive and the sudden, deadly assault punctuate pandemic-level tragedy on what was meant to be a dream safari and perhaps her last major overseas trip. Family and friends had long described her as a “big traveler” who had always hoped to see Africa’s wildlife, with March 30, 2024, marking the day of the fatal incident as she neared her 80th birthday. The accident curtailed Gail’s lifelong passion for travel and left loved ones planning a memorial as they remember a woman who cherished exploring Asia, Europe, and beyond.