News & Stories

Update on Richard Herring and Pieter Theron

January 22, 2010

The Alliance family praises God for the continued recovery of Asia Pacific Regional Director Richard Herring and Mongolia Field Director Pieter Theron, who were injured in a freak elephant accident last November during an outing with participants of the Asia Pacific Regional Conference in Bangkok, Thailand.

An elephant grabbed the two men, throwing them 10 feet into the air. Pieter suffered fractured shoulders, a fractured skull and wrist, and displaced vertebrae and/or discs in his neck that required surgery. Richard suffered multiple fractures in his pelvic bone and hip socket.

Pieter was released from the hospital on November 19. He recuperated in South Africa during the month of December and returned to Mongolia in the beginning of January to resume leadership of the field.

Richard Herring’s recovery has been slow but steady. It was many weeks before he was able to get out of bed or to walk. He was released from the hospital on December 18, and in early January he was able to put partial weight on his left leg. On January 19, he was allowed to put full weight on his leg but still needs crutches to get around.

 ”I praise the Lord for gradual improvement, minimal pain now, and opportunities to share God’s love with those in the hospital as well as the owner and manager of the elephant farm,” Richard wrote in a December 15 update.

 ”Thank you for your continued prayers,” Pieter said in a recent prayer letter. “I promise to stay away from elephants from now on!” Please continue to pray for the full recovery of both men.