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'Total of five people arrested' over killing of British pilot in Tanzania | 'Total of five people arrested' over killing of British pilot in Tanzania |
(7 months later) | |
Five people have been arrested in Tanzania following the fatal shooting of a British helicopter pilot who was flying an anti-poaching mission. | Five people have been arrested in Tanzania following the fatal shooting of a British helicopter pilot who was flying an anti-poaching mission. |
The Friedkin Conservation Fund said that more arrests were expected following the killing of Roger Gower, who was flying on a joint operation with Tanzanian wildlife authorities in the Maswa game reserve, near Serengeti national park, on 29 January. | The Friedkin Conservation Fund said that more arrests were expected following the killing of Roger Gower, who was flying on a joint operation with Tanzanian wildlife authorities in the Maswa game reserve, near Serengeti national park, on 29 January. |
His helicopter crashed after being hit by rounds from an AK-47 rifle fired from the ground. | His helicopter crashed after being hit by rounds from an AK-47 rifle fired from the ground. |
The Texas-based Friedkin group, which oversees conservation projects in Tanzania, said the detainees included a suspected gunman and accomplices, as well as members of a network providing illegal weapons and smuggling ivory. | The Texas-based Friedkin group, which oversees conservation projects in Tanzania, said the detainees included a suspected gunman and accomplices, as well as members of a network providing illegal weapons and smuggling ivory. |
Gower, 37, and a safari guide, Nicky Bester, were flying close to the ground searching for gunmen who had killed three elephants in the Maswa reserve when the gang started shooting at the helicopter. | Gower, 37, and a safari guide, Nicky Bester, were flying close to the ground searching for gunmen who had killed three elephants in the Maswa reserve when the gang started shooting at the helicopter. |
A bullet is understood to have passed through the floor of the helicopter, hitting Gower first in the leg then in the shoulder before exiting through the roof. | A bullet is understood to have passed through the floor of the helicopter, hitting Gower first in the leg then in the shoulder before exiting through the roof. |
Despite being shot, Gower was able to fly the helicopter down into a tree, allowing Bester to jump to safety and hide from the poachers in a thicket, wildlife authorities said. | Despite being shot, Gower was able to fly the helicopter down into a tree, allowing Bester to jump to safety and hide from the poachers in a thicket, wildlife authorities said. |
Gower grew up in Birmingham and trained as an accountant in London before becoming a helicopter pilot in 2004. He had been flying from neighbouring Kenya, working for safaris and excursions, before moving to Tanzania last October to join a tour operator called Legendary Expeditions. | Gower grew up in Birmingham and trained as an accountant in London before becoming a helicopter pilot in 2004. He had been flying from neighbouring Kenya, working for safaris and excursions, before moving to Tanzania last October to join a tour operator called Legendary Expeditions. |
Gower’s brother Max told the Evening Standard: “He had found something he was really good at and took a lot of pride in that. He ferried British soldiers around, he helped presenter Simon Reeve make wildlife documentaries and he flew tourists, including Bill Gates and Jessica Biel.” | Gower’s brother Max told the Evening Standard: “He had found something he was really good at and took a lot of pride in that. He ferried British soldiers around, he helped presenter Simon Reeve make wildlife documentaries and he flew tourists, including Bill Gates and Jessica Biel.” |
Almost £50,000 has been raised on a JustGiving page set up by Max and John Gower to help anti-poaching efforts in Tanzania and ensure that “some good should come out of Roger’s tragic death”. | Almost £50,000 has been raised on a JustGiving page set up by Max and John Gower to help anti-poaching efforts in Tanzania and ensure that “some good should come out of Roger’s tragic death”. |
They wrote: “Those who knew [Roger] will remember his idiosyncrasies but also his principles and his infectious love of having fun. He will be sorely missed by all.” | They wrote: “Those who knew [Roger] will remember his idiosyncrasies but also his principles and his infectious love of having fun. He will be sorely missed by all.” |