Bigfoot Hunter Dies In Fall
Posted by: Loren Coleman on October 13th, 2008
At Cryptomundo, the well-known, the modestly-known, and those unknown until today are equally worthy of a remembrance when they pass away. Such is the case of Tod Emerson.
Tod Emerson
Tod Emerson, 44, an American father and partner living in Wales, had started work on a renewable energy degree at Glyndwr University. Adventure called, however, and Emerson was injured while rockclimbing at a quarry at Llanferres on Wednesday, September 24, 2008. He was airlifted to Glan Clwyd Hospital, where he died from his injuries the following day.
In reading tributes to him, this from his mother Jo Emerson caught my attention:
“My son Tod was born on a Sunday evening, in the summer of 1963….Even as a young man he was an outdoorsman and enjoyed fishing and hunting with his buddies and we lived in the perfect area for that. There was only one game that escaped him: His quest to hunt down and befriend Bigfoot. He tracked him for days on end.”
Emerson, originally from California, joined the US Air Force after leaving school and was stationed at Greenham Common, Berkshire. He decided to stay in the UK and later moved to north east Wales, where he worked in the printing industry and settled in Ruthin.
Emerson was a former employee of NWN Media, publisher of the Evening Leader, in Mold, where he had many friends and colleagues.
Former colleague and fellow rock climber Raymond Tunley said: “He was a keen cliff climber, surfer and outward bounds enthusiast.”
Tod’s partner Rachel added: “His appetite for adventure and zest for life was made manifest in his love for climbing and surfing, where he had made many close friends from these activities and he loved them all dearly.”
Family and friends from both sides of the Atlantic sent in tributes to the Welsh media noting Emerson was a “kind, loving, thoughtful, charming and good-natured” climber from Ruthin, who happened to be a Bigfoot hunter too.
The father of three, his daughter, Ashley is at the university in Manchester. Tod Emerson is also survived by his sons David and Chris, his long-term partner Rachel Hunt, his parents Jo and Ralph, and his sister Laura.
Cryptomundo sends out condolences to his family, partner, and friends.
About Loren Coleman
Loren Coleman is one of the world’s leading cryptozoologists, some say “the” leading living cryptozoologist. Certainly, he is acknowledged as the current living American researcher and writer who has most popularized cryptozoology in the late 20th and early 21st centuries.
Starting his fieldwork and investigations in 1960, after traveling and trekking extensively in pursuit of cryptozoological mysteries, Coleman began writing to share his experiences in 1969. An honorary member of Ivan T. Sanderson’s Society for the Investigation of the Unexplained in the 1970s, Coleman has been bestowed with similar honorary memberships of the North Idaho College Cryptozoology Club in 1983, and in subsequent years, that of the British Columbia Scientific Cryptozoology Club, CryptoSafari International, and other international organizations. He was also a Life Member and Benefactor of the International Society of Cryptozoology (now-defunct).
Loren Coleman’s daily blog, as a member of the Cryptomundo Team, served as an ongoing avenue of communication for the ever-growing body of cryptozoo news from 2005 through 2013. He returned as an infrequent contributor beginning Halloween week of 2015.
Coleman is the founder in 2003, and current director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine.
Always sad.
One thing catches my attention: the statement that he tracked a bigfoot for days.
Now, that is probably an imprecise statement, but if he literally tracked a given individual for days, that would be quite a story! And with useful information as well.
R.I.P. Tod Emerson
Hello there,
My name is Ashley Emerson. I am Tod’s daughter, when searching for tributes i stumbled across yours on google and felt i should send a message.
My dad was an amazing man. I’m so proud that he was my father. His life has inspired me to live my own to the full, never to say never, stay open minded and grasp every oppurtunity with both hands.
He had so many friends in all walks of life, he died doing his favorite thing in the world. Climbing was his true passion. He was more like my best friend than a father. He was far too cool to ever see him as a stereotypical father figure.
I wish you all could have met him.
Thank you for your post.
Thank you for this tribute to Mr. Emerson.