A former teacher, rally driver and safari lodge designer from East Devon can now add author to his list of achievements!
Andrew Coates penned his ripping yarn - which has now been published and is available on Amazon - during lockdown.
The 55-year-old, who is married with two children, grew up in East Budleigh and Yettington but has since lived all over the world.
Thirty years ago he was forced to abandon a mission to drive his Range Rover from Devon across Africa via the Sahara, to a Kenyan school where he was going to teach for two years after being confronted by a band of gun-toting Nomads.
Andrew, whose mum Hanneke Hoorn Coates still lives at Lemprice Farm in Yettington, said: “I have had many adventures since leaving East Devon and have lived in Cairo, Kenya and, presently, Panama.
“I now own a company that specialises in developing national parks Infrastructure around the tropical world, mostly Africa and Americas. This often means working with anti-poaching units to help them establish remote patrol bases, for example.
“We are so proud of our work in protected areas. From Madagascar, to Gabon, to Belize and Panama, our work plays a role in helping preserve wildlife and contributes to education and livelihoods around the parks.”
Andrew’s book, The Extinct Company, tells the story of an ex British Army officer and his ace pilot sister who stumble upon a sealed bunker deep in the jungle.
Soon they are entangled in a race to save an endangered rhino species in Africa, and also the lives of thousands of humans.
Alongside a band of like-minded vigilantes, they battle through impenetrable jungles, the rugged coast of California, and the searing heat of the plains of Africa only to find their foes are deeply embedded in the very governments and organisations they thought they could trust.
With humour, comradeship and passion, they will fight fire with fire. They will become the poachers of poachers.
One reviewer said: “I have just put this book down after a rip roaring five-hour roller coaster. If you want a fun read and some excellent escapism, packed with adventure and excitement look no further. I loved it.”