A film-maker was horrifically killed after his skull was crushed by a bull giraffe in an attack at the safari park used to film ITV’s popular Wild at Heart series.

Carlos Carvalho had worked on most of the series of the hit family drama that featured a British family building up an animal hospital in the South African bush.

But the 47-year-old was sent flying 16 feet through the air while working on a feature film with Gerald the Giraffe after the animal headbutted him, causing devastating head injuries.

He was airlifted from the scene in Broederstroom, South Africa, to the same hospital where British safari park owner Mike Hodge is recovering from a lion attack in Johannesburg but surgeons were unable to save him.

Drikus Van Der Merwe was part of the filming crew and said he was stood next to Carlos when he was attacked. 

'He started chasing the boom Player who joined our unit,' he added. 'The giraffe followed him but we didn’t feel threatened because he just seemed to be inquisitive.

'We started shooting close ups of its body and its feet. Then while Carlos was looking through the camera eyepiece Gerald swung his neck and hit him against his head. 

'It came out of nowhere and Carlos didn’t even see it coming. He wasn’t aware of the danger.'

The tragedy happened at the popular 1,500-acre Glen Afric Country Lodge in Hartbeespoort which is 50 miles north the hospital he was flown to on Wednesday night.

Van Der Merwe said Carlos’s body lay lifeless on the ground until the on-set paramedic arrived. 

'I could see he was unconscious,' he said. 'There was blood coming out of his eyes and ears so I knew he had a severe head trauma. But I never thought he would die.

'Out of all the wild animals we have filmed I can’t believe a giraffe killed Carlos. I suppose we get so used to filming animals that we become desensitised in a way.'





Moments before the attack, photographer Van Der Merwe took the final pictures of Carlos alive as he worked on rigging. 

Owner of Glen Afric Country Lodge Richard Brooker yesterday told how he was killed.

He said: 'Carlos was standing in front of the giraffe, the animal spread its legs, bent its neck and swung its head at Carlos. It was a terrible accident and we are heartbroken.

'Gerald will remain at the lodge. He did nothing wrong.'

Carvalho won a number of awards since he began his career as a runner in 1992. 

They included a Silver Lion at the Cannes Film Festival in 2003 for a public service announcement for Childline and a 2014 African Movie Academy Cinematography Award for his work on “The Forgotten Kingdom”. 

Adult male giraffes which stand 18 feet tall and weigh up to 1.2 tons fight with their heads in what is called necking to prove dominance and for the right to access to females.

Carlos had his skull crushed by the horns known as ossicones on the top of the giraffe’s head .

The filmmakers Cape Town agent Sandi-Lee Slabbert said: 'The giraffe headbutted Carlos during filming and he was rushed to hospital but died that night from head injuries.

'He was an amazing, amazing man and fabulous to work with. Everyone loved him and loved working with him. 

'He was very well known at Glen Afric where he filmed a lot. He is a very sad loss to everyone who knew him and the industry.'

The wildlife park is home to elephants, lions, cheetahs, giraffe, hippos and monkeys and overlooks the Magailesberg Mountains and is a popular spot for TV and film programmes.

Source http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5694067/Award-winning-movie-director-killed-freak-accident-skull-crushed-GIRAFFE.html

Ordinary headbutt this one cannot survive.

What will he now do if those ex-GoTV boxers-turned-Agberos @ Ojuelegba under bridge nod him?

Shioor.


#LazyLatinoYouth

Died in the line of duty.


May his dutiful soul rest in peace.

ShyCypher:
Ordinary headbut this one cannot survive.

What will he now do if those ex-GoTV boxers-turned-Agberos @ Ojuelegba under bridge nod him?

Shioor.


#LazyLatinoYouth

Judge yourself,did you make any sense with this your post?

wow

RIP to the dead

A giraffe's kick is also strong enough to kill a lion..


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MX9GrMQoeNc

What part of Wild Life did the man not understand?

sad!

All men must die(valar morghulis) but I don't want to die this way. I want to die while sleeping.

Evablizin:
Judge yourself,did you make any sense with this your post?

. bad mouth.

Did he die

A rare and worse way to die. Of all the animals, you're killed by a giraffe. RIP man

RIP man.
At least he didn't die on top olosho

I don't know what to comment self ...only commenting for what I am typing to appear in the first page...so that people can read it ...and if possible.. they will drop some likes.

There's a reason they're called 'wild'.
Never form familiarity with them.

Khd95:
Did he die

Lazy Nigeria youth...

I bet you did not read the write up...

All these whitey too dey play rough play.

well, he just received his own 'headies' award for best video shoot!

m

Oyibo people go dey form say dem no dey fear... If na Nija man, he for pick race... See as the Pictures clear like DSTV.

if giraffe mistakenly enter Nigeria,forget the giaffe life

Evablizin:
Judge yourself,did you make any sense with this your post?

Actually there's no sense in his post but he's funny anyway.

Sad story

KingLennon:
A rare and worse way to die. Of all the animals, you're killed by a giraffe. RIP man

just so you know, a giraffe can break a lion's rib with a single strike. A strong man is several times weaker than a lion.

Its part of the movie

Why Sambisa nah