American tourist drowns in water rafting expedition

 Police in Southern Province have confirmed the death of an American tourist who drowned during a rafting expedition on the Zambezi River near Victoria Falls.

Southern Province Commanding Officer Moono Namalongo said the victim, identified as Patrick Lawrence, 68, died after the raft he was navigating capsized at Rapid Number 7 last evening.

Mr Namalongo confirmed the death of 68-year-old Patrick Lawrence in a statement to the media in Livingstone this morning.

“We can confirm that Mr Lawrence, an American national, tragically drowned during a rafting activity on the Zambezi River...

He said the accident ... was reported by Mr Obey Hamuchemba, 47, Director at Nyami Nyami Rafting Company, who was overseeing the activity.

Investigations indicate that Mr Lawrence was leading a team of ten paddlers when the raft overturned.

Mr Namalongo however confirmed the safety of the other paddlers who were in the company of the now deceased.

The South Police Chief says the body of Mr Lawrence was later retrieved and rushed to Mukuni Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Source: American tourist drowns in water rafting expedition (15/11/2025)

Further Information

American river guide Lawrence Patrick Firman dies while kayaking the Zambezi

Lawrence Patrick Firman, 68 years old, an expert kayaker and rafting guide for over 35 consecutive seasons in the USA, died while kayaking the Zambezi river on November 13, 2025. “Larry” was part of a group of over a dozen river guides (including several Zambian guides and also one non-river guide participant) who had completed a 12-day expedition trip down the Zambezi river during which Larry had kayaked through the main rapids on the river successfully. On the day after the expedition trip ended, most of the same group were doing a day-trip through the main rapids section of the river again along with 3 local river guides (from Zambia and Zimbabwe, with leader Thando Lungu) when the incident occurred. This group of 12 river guides plus 1 non-guide were in 2 paddle rafts and 2 kayaks. The two kayakers were Larry and another expert kayaker and river guide from Mexico (Uriel Arroyo). According to Uriel, who was close to Larry on the water as the incident occurred, they entered Rapid #7 just before 3 pm and kayaked through most of the rapid to the very end section known as Land of the Giants, where Larry entered a big hole that flipped him. [Mr Firman appears to have subsequently drowned attempting to roll the kayak back upright. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful.] (Facebook, 17th November 2025)