Bernd Kebbel, a 59-year-old German businessman and philanthropist, was fatally attacked by a lioness while camping with his wife and friends during a safari trip in Namibia on the morning of Friday, May 30. The incident occurred near the Hoanib Skeleton Coast Camp in the Sesfontein area.
According to Ndeshipanda Hamunyela, spokesperson for Namibia’s Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism, Kebbel was attacked after stepping out of his tent to use the toilet. “The victim had stepped out of his tent to use the toilet on Friday morning, May 30, when he was attacked by the lioness,” Hamunyela told Informante.
Despite the group’s quick reaction to chase the lioness away, Kebbel succumbed to his injuries at the scene.
A police spokesperson informed CBS News that officers were present during the incident and that a full report will be submitted in due course.
Authorities confirmed that the lioness was euthanised on Sunday, June 1, due to the ongoing threat she posed to tourists and local communities.
Kebbel was the former owner of the Offroad Centre, a company specialising in offroad vehicle equipment.
The northwest region of Namibia, where this tragic attack took place, is known for its population of desert-adapted lions—a rare group uniquely suited to the harsh environment. As of 2023, the population included approximately 60 adult lions and over a dozen cubs.
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