[Daily Mail, where America gets its news] The buffalo that killed an American big game hunter was shot dead just seconds after goring the man to death.
Multi-millionaire Asher Watkins, 59, was out on safari with a professional hunter and an animal tracker on the trail of the bull last Sunday when the beast charged at him and killed him instantly with his horns.
The professional hunter guiding Watkins through the bush killed the buffalo with a single shot just seconds after the tragic incident.
The news of the of the buffalo's death was greeted with dismay and sadness as thousands commented online that they prayed it had escaped and run to safety.
Bearded big game hunter Watkins dressed in camouflage lay dying close by.
The professional hunter from Coenraad Vermaak Safaris running the trophy hunt in Limpopo Province called for medical help but nothing could be done to save Watkins.
An emergency services source said: 'He was beyond help except to load his body into the ambulance. He had horrific injuries to his stomach and to his ribs.
'Buffalo kills are not rare in Limpopo and not many survive but when our guys got there it was clear he must have died instantly from the injuries he had suffered.
'It was big buffalo and anything standing in the way of a charge would not survive. If left alone they are pretty tolerant but if you upset them it will not end well.
'The buffalo lay dead where it was shot with a single bullet wound' she said.
Businessman Watkins who had made his fortune selling upmarket Texan ranches valued between £1m and £30m travelled worldwide to shoot wild animals.
There are many photos on his Facebook page showing animals he has hunted and killed including a mountain lion, many types of deer, turkey shoots and wild fowl.
His ex-wife Courtney who posted news of Watkin's death on her Facebook page was forced to take it down after it was deluged by trolls delighted the buffalo 'won'.
Watkin's own Facebook hunting page was also filled with sick posts describing his death from the buffalo as 'karma' and an AI meme with his head on a hunting shield.
Many were hoping the buffalo that killed him had managed to escape back to his herd but the professional hunter with him took it out with a single heart shot.
| Quite right. We can’t have animals accustomed to killing people running around looking for more of us to play with. |
If the hunt had gone as normal the buffalo's head and skin would have been taken by the hunting company and given to a taxidermist to prepare as a trophy. |