Could Use Help From My Ruger Forum Friends.

[Bear Paw Jack]

Long time friend and Professional Hunter Scott van Zyl has gone missing in Zimbabwe. He and one of his trackers were on the So. Africa Zimbabwe border tracking leopards. At some point they split up. My understanding is that Scott was tracking on the So. African side and this tracker was on the Zimbabwe side. He went missing sometime Thursday or Friday. Even though the weather is good in Zimbabwe now, this many days is ominous. They now have helicopters and trackers looking. If you are inclined please pray for his recovery. Things are not looking good. His pack and water pack have been found near the Limpopo river, but no other sign. The tracker made it back but of course has no idea where Scott is. He's a good guy and a family man.

Here is a thread on another forum with about all that is really known about his disappearance:
https://www.africahunting.com/threads/he...zimbabwe.37136/
The search efforts are being funded in a large part by the hunting community. You can donate here:
https://www.gofundme.com/search-rescue-scott-van-zyl
There are also updates posted there as well. He has been missing since last Fri..........

The first one is a 10 page thread and it starts at the end. Farther you get into it the more information and updates. Interesting read anyway, at the efforts being made to find him.

 

[wolfsong]

...Amen.

 

[Pistolero]

Prayers up for Scott.

 

[Jeepnik]

Prayers up.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

It's been a week since Scott went missing. If you read on the Africa Hunting forum, there have been very few leads. One is his pack and water bag was found near the Limpopo river. That leads people to three possibilities, 1. Roaming gangs, but I think they would have stole the packs. 2. Hippos but a hippo will chomp and stomp and go on. 3. Crocs. Lots of crocs out there. But they found no blood. They brought in the Zimbabwe police and divers to check for a body. This may be coming to a conclusion before long, this is the latest update:

UPDATE #15: Evening everyone, herewith the latest update from the SAR team. The search has continued today focussing mostly on the river again. Here is a message received directly from the SAR co-ordinator: "Possible human remains found in crocodiles shot today by the Zimbabwe police. Samples have been sent to the lab to confirm, will send more details when we have the results."

I would like to emphasise the word "possible" as it was sent to confirm the DNA and only once the DNA is confirmed, will they know the details.

I would like to ask again, keep the family and their feelings in mind when commenting or sharing this until there's confirmation from the lab. This is just a possible scenario and not a fact at this stage.

Thank you for your consideration and understanding. Please keep the family in your prayers and thank you again for all your contributions. Without all your support, we would not have been able to get this far.
Help spread the word!

Not sure I can think of a worse way to go. But, I guess it would be better than no answer.

 

[WendyZXZ]

Prayers for Scott and his family from Texas.

 

[SamV]

I send my prayer and hope for all.

 

[win1894s]

Prayers for Scot and family

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

UPDATE #16: Friday, 14 April 2017 - Feedback from the chairman at the Limpopo Hunters Liason Forum (LHLF) - Mr. Phillip Bronkhorst:

"Today exactly a week ago fellow PH, friend and family man Scott van Zyl went missing on the banks of the Limpopo River. The search and rescue team has done everything humanly possible to find Scott.

Lots of help and support was given by several organizations and individuals. We will not name all of them now but a list will follow shortly.

Since yesterday when POSSIBLE human remains was found, more searching was done today in the area. By around midday today general consensus was reached by the SAR team that they had done what was possible to find info on this puzzle and to find Scott. The SAR was called off for the moment BUT contact will be kept with locals, villagers and fisherman on both sides of the river to get more possible info from the locals on the ground.

A formal police investigation has been launched and each and everyone hope for a closure on this incident.
Please keep Sure, their 2 kids and all the family in your daily prayers and thoughts.

DNA testing on some of the content that was found in the stomachs of the crocodiles shot to verify if it is human or not will only be available in a couple weeks and up till then the uncertainty will remain and hope will prevail.

A full breakdown of total costs of this SAR is in process to be finalized and if you still want to donate please keep doing so. The funds generated now will be allocated towards Scott's family to cover any further immediate costs. Please also when sharing this message keep the info within the boundaries laid out by this message and do not trespass the boundaries of negative news sharing like we have experience the last couple days from several prominent news agencies."

 

[Colonialgirl]

Prayers for his being found alive
and
Prayers that he may be welcomed into heaven if the worst has happened.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Got some new reports that appear very bad. This from Salome De Villiers:

Evening everyone.. i am waiting on a final update from our LHLF president but this is what i do know to be a fact and confirmed by the SAR team; the part of the boot that was found in one of the crocodiles was indeed Scott's. The search wasn't completely called off, we still have people visiting the villages and people there to see if any new information has come to light after the pamphlets was distributed. We all know at this stage that DNA tests are being done on the remains found and I know we all wanted answers last week already. All we can do is still pray.

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

Update 17:

President of LHLF , Phillip Bronkhorts: " Like most of you know the unofficial official Search and Rescue for Scott van Zyl by his fellow professional hunters, friends and family with the help of several cross border organizations from South Africa and Zimbabwe has been halted. A formal police investigation is underway and the results of the DNA on the possible human remains found in the stomachs of the Crocodiles exterminated in the immidiate area where the situation occured, will only be known in a while. The Go Fund Me Project has been finalized and halted.

We, the Safari and Hunting Community, Friends of Scott and his family want to thank each and every-one for their donations and contributions. This funds was used wisely, managed properly and the remainder of the funds, after all costs of the SAR is paid out, will be allocated to Scott’s family.

Any additional funding that you would like to send or donate can go through the account of the Limpopo Hunters Liaison Forum from where it will find its correct routing.

If you do have any questions on how the funds was used a full schedule will be available very soon.

Any questions and queries could be directed per email to: [email protected] "

 

[Bear Paw Jack]

This is indeed a sad outcome. The loss of Scott to our hunting community and family is huge. Prayers go out to his family.

 

[Rumrunner]

Very sad in deed. Prayers to his family.

 

[blume357]

Sorry for your loss... but you know I'm reminded of a Jimmy Buffet song:

"I'd rather die while I'm living then live while I'm dead"

Sounds to me like the guy went out doing what he enjoyed.... which is to me better than laying in a bed plugged up and constantly poked and prodded.