A safari guide was killed by a lion in front of horrified tourists after reportedly putting himself directly in the animal’s path to protect the group.

Quinn Swales, 40, was leading a photographic walking safari through Zimbabwe’s Hwange National Park in 2015 when the group came across a pride of lions. The terrifying encounter unfolded in one of Africa’s most famous wildlife reserves, the same park once home to Cecil the lion.

Swales, an experienced professional guide with Camp Hwange, had walked the area many times before. According to the safari company, he was leading six guests along the edge of an open area when an adult male lion stood up from where it had been resting and began moving toward them.

Rather than panic, Swales reportedly stayed calm and immediately told the tourists what to do. He instructed them to get behind him, stay still and follow his directions as the lion approached.

The group tried to scare the animal away by shouting and setting off a “bear banger,” a device that makes a loud gunshot-like sound. At first, it appeared to work. The lion backed off.

Moments later, however, the animal suddenly returned and charged.

Camp Hwange later said Swales “bore the full brunt of the charge” and was unable to fire his rifle because of how quickly the attack happened. The company said he effectively stopped the lion from reaching the tourists by placing himself directly in harm’s way.

Swales suffered fatal injuries to his shoulder and neck and died at the scene. The screams and commotion from the group eventually scared the lion away, allowing the tourists to call for help and try to assist the guide.

No tourists were killed in the attack.

Wildlife experts later said Swales appeared to have followed proper safety procedures during the encounter, but the situation unfolded too quickly for him to stop the lion once it charged.

The tragedy came just weeks after Hwange National Park had drawn international attention over the killing of Cecil the lion, a 13-year-old animal beloved by visitors and tracked as part of an Oxford University research project. Cecil was killed by American trophy hunter Walter Palmer, sparking worldwide outrage.

Despite the two high-profile incidents, Hwange remains a major safari destination known for elephants, lions and other iconic African wildlife. Park officials have long warned visitors to follow strict safety rules, including keeping a safe distance from wild animals, obeying guides, respecting curfews and never feeding wildlife.

Swales was remembered as a brave and experienced guide who gave his life protecting the people in his care.