Zambian police have confirmed that a body recovered near the Victoria Falls World Heritage Site is that of Christopher Gibbs, an American tourist who had been reported missing earlier this week while visiting the region.
Southern Province police commissioner Moono Namalongo told state media that the identification was made on Wednesday, after authorities in Zimbabwe alerted their Zambian counterparts that Gibbs had failed to return to his accommodation in Victoria Falls. Investigations established that he had crossed into Zambia through the Victoria Falls Border Post on 5 January.
A joint cross-border search operation was launched involving the Zambia Police Service, the Zambia Army Marine Unit, the Zambia Air Force, and the Livingstone City Council Fire Brigade. The body was recovered on Wednesday night from a restricted danger zone close to the falls.
Preliminary assessments suggest injuries consistent with a fall from a height, though authorities stressed that a post-mortem examination will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.
Gibbs’ disappearance had triggered coordinated efforts between Zimbabwean and Zambian law-enforcement agencies, reflecting the high volume of tourist movement in the area and the well-documented risks associated with the gorge surrounding the falls.
The body has been transferred to Batoka Mortuary, where investigations into the circumstances of the incident are continuing.
