Elephant Kills Pittsburgh Woman in Africa (while she was visiting Peace Corps daughter)

Pittsburgh Post Gazette ^ | Dec. 9 2003 | Mackenzie Carpenter

[mountaineer]

All her life, Heather Uber loved adventure and the outdoors, so when her older daughter joined the Peace Corps and moved to the West African nation of Cameroon in September 2002, Uber eagerly made plans to travel there.

But that visit ended tragically Thursday morning when Uber, a 55-year old mother of four, was killed by a rampaging elephant while visiting a wildlife park with her husband and daughter.

Uber, of Point Breeze, suffered internal injuries when she was knocked down by the elephant, which suddenly charged at the group from a distance of about 40 feet, said Ned Uber.

"Everything happened so fast," said Uber, who, along with his daughter, Holly, 23, was able to dodge behind a tree. But his wife and another member of the party were knocked to the ground. "Heather ended up getting bumped by the elephant's tusk in the lower left abdomen. We all tried to run around a tree, but they're really fast compared to people."

It took nearly an hour to get Heather Uber out of the park, and then, another two hours by car over nearly 100 miles of bumpy roads to the nearest hospital in the city of Garoua. Uber, who had lost consciousness during the car ride, died only a few minutes after arriving at the hospital.

"At some point, she thought she wasn't going to make it, so she started telling us to make sure we told [our other children] she loved them," her husband said. "And she told us not to blame ourselves for making the trip. And she said a lot of other good things."

[mountaineer]

Poor thing, what a horrible way to go!

[mountaineer]

What the heck, martin, may as well hit the ping list, please.

[Shooter 2.5]

The article had a lot of praise for her. It's nice that she was so well thought of.

Too bad those minutes it takes to get in trouble aren't used to reflect on how an accident may affect others.

[Pharmboy]

Dreadful; poor thing. Her daughter will likely feel guilt about this.

[Prodigal Son]

Elephants aren't something to mess around with. Forty feet is only 13 paces. I don't think I'd want to be so close to one in the wild.

[billorites]

This is like watching Antique Roadshow.

Boring.

[Arpege92]

"Elephants aren't something to mess around with."

Amen to that....this is why I won't allow my son to ride an elephant at our local fairs.

[smokeyb]

I wonder if they are Democrats ? (sorry, I couldn't resist)

[yooper]

Reminds me of a trip I made with the family to the Ding Darling Preserve on Sanibel Island. I got out of my van with my daughter on my shoulders to look at an American Crocodile which was sunning itself in the sand. I approached to a caution tape which was strung about 40 feet from the Croc to have a closer look when a retired lady (the park is staffed mostly by retired volunteers) came up to me and said "Please don't get any closer. These Crocodiles can move very quickly for short distances."

I told her, "Lady, I don't have to outrun the Croc, just you."

She looked at me for an instant and then exploded in laughter. True story.

[steplock]

I cannot feel sorry for ignorant leftists who think that nature is 'peaceful' and only humans are 'mean spirited' --- sorry.

Common sense would tell me that 40 feet is a bit too close to a bull elephant. There was no "rampage" he was defending himself, his family, his territory.

[martin_fierro]

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Just dam.

[Ax]

About 20 years ago, my partner and I were working at the embassy in N'Djamena, Chad. We hired an embassy Land Cruiser/driver one Sunday. We crossed the Chari river on a floating raft and went into Cameroun. The driver took us south for a couple of hours into the Waza Game Reserve. We were turned over to an Ibo guide, who took us into elephant territory. We sneaked up on a herd of about 50 of the brutes, from baby calves to old patriarchs. The Ibo guide was a bit nervous. We were about 100 yards away from their watering hole, snapping pictures. Finally, the Ibo insisted that we return to the Land Cruiser before any of us spooked the herd. The elephants are not to be messed with; they are real short on senses of humor.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

Who cares you sicko?

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

I'm sure you've never done anything dumb before? For instance, have you ever driven in an unsafe manner or followed to closely behind the car in front of you or driven after you drank a little too much?

[AppauledAtAppeasementConservat]

"At some point, she thought she wasn't going to make it, so she started telling us to make sure we told [our other children] she loved them," her husband said. "And she told us not to blame ourselves for making the trip. And she said a lot of other good things."


Terribly sad indeed. At least she was able to have last words with her family and I hope that this will bring some comfort to them. I can only imagine the tremendous amount of guilt this fellow could have replaying the whole incident over and over about not grabbing her and pulling her out of the way in time.

[ladyinred]

Sad story. Also sad are some of the really tacky remarks made here by some posters.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

People don't realize how fast elephants can move or how deadly they can be. People who would be wary around a lion don't regard elephants and hippos as threats and so they aren't careful.

Poor lady.

[Major_Risktaker]

[pubmom]

Very sad, indeed.

[WackyKat]

Uber, of Point Breeze, suffered internal injuries when she was knocked down by the elephant, which suddenly charged at the group from a distance of about 40 feet, said Ned Uber.

I'm sorry this woman was killed, but anyone who would get 40 feet from a wild elephant is just being reckless and foolish

If you invade an animal's personal space of course it's going to react. And elephants don't feel the need to back down