GIRAFFE ATTACKS award-winning movie director while shooting film in South Africa

The last photograph of Carlos Carvalho, who was killed by a giraffe

by Mike Behr

Carlos Carvalho was taken to hospital but died from head injuries after shooting scenes with a giraffe called Gerald, with witnesses saying the killer blow came without warning

A SOUTH African movie director was killed after being hit by a giraffe while shooting close-ups of the wild animal at a South African game farm.

Carlos Carvalho, 47, was shooting scenes at a British expat's game farm when the giraffe, called Gerald, swung its neck - hitting him on his head and sending him flying.

The last photograph taken of the award-winning South African director has since been shared, with witnesses recounting the devastating tragedy that unfolded on Wednesday.

Focus puller Drikus van der Merwe said: "I was standing right next to Carlos when the giraffe suddenly swung its neck and hit him on his head above his ear and sent him flying about four or five metres through the air."

He said that the animal had initially seemed to be "inquisitive", with the crew shooting close ups of its body and feet.

He added: "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.”

Mike Behr

The giraffe, called Gerald, was being filmed when he hit the film director 

Mike Behr

Carlos was an award-winning South African movie director

A stunned Van der Merwe said he unwittingly captured the last photos of Carvalho alive, taking a photograph for the 47-year-old's family.

He said: "About five minutes before he got hit Carlos gave me his phone and asked me to take some photos of him on the rig for his kids.

 

"He was talking so highly of them and his wife. I feel so sorry for them."

The film crew had been at Glen Afric, a North West Province game farm where tourists can view and pet wild animals, to capture footage for a German movie Premium Nanny 2.

Mike Behr

A Christmas card previously sent out by the South African game farm, showing Gerald the giraffe

 

Mike Behr

The film director had been at the farm

Carlos, who has won a number of awards including 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, was airlifted to Milpark Hospital in Johannesburg, but died about 9pm on Wednesday.

The South African game farm he was at is located in Broederstroom, 64km from Johannesburg.

Better known in the movie business as Brookers Farm, it has also been a popular filming location for hundreds of international movie and TV shoots for the last 40 years.

It is best known in the UK as the location for the ITV series Wild At Heart.
The show ran for seven series from January 2006 to December 2012.

Mike Behr

The giraffe will not be put down, owners of the park said

Glen Afric spokesperson Jenny said that Carvalho had ignored safety instructions not to approach the animal, saying: "He was unauthorised to film. He went off on his own.

"He wanted to get some shots to prove a point. He was trying to excel.

"Gerald was not to blame and would not be put down, said Brooker.

“We are not going to shoot Gerald. He was not in the wrong. I don’t consider him to be a dangerous animal.”

She said unlike Shamba the lion who was shot on another South African game farm after mauling his British owner Mike Hodge on Monday, Gerald the giraffe showed “no animosity, no malicious intent".

She said: "He’s just a huge wild animal and the guy disobeyed safety regulations. I’m very sad for his family. But I’m not one of those people who blames the animals."