Man escapes death by buffalo
2003-03-24 23:30
Vaalwater - A young man from Limpopo is recovering in a Gauteng hospital after a buffalo gored him at a game farm over the weekend and he had to hold his intestines in his hands for more than an hour before reaching a hospital for emergency treatment.
Alan Fourie, 23, says he realises it is an absolute miracle he survived his tussle with the buffalo bull, but the bigger miracle is that the animal's horns had not damaged any other organ, artery or his intestines besides his stomach lining.
Fourie, a Phalaborwa businessman, says he, his father and a few others were on his father's game farm, Alpetra Nature Reserve, between Vaalwater and Ellisras when he was attacked by the buffalo.
"We have 21 buffalo in a breeding project on the farm and in the evenings they come home to their pen to feed," Fourie said from his hospital bed in the Unitas hospital in Centurion.
"When the animals failed to arrive on Friday night, I went to investigate.
"I came across the herd unexpectedly and the dominant bull, a very cheeky fellow, suddenly stormed at me.
"He gored me between the legs. One of his horns pierced my stomach. He shook me and threw me down. I escaped, and hid behind a tree.
"It was a very small tree, and I still can't believe he then left me alone.
"The other buffalo were unconcernedly feeding from the bag of fodder that had fallen from my hand when the bull charged at me."
Off-road vehicle
"I thought my last day had dawned, but I realised I couldn't die there as I'm still young and there are many things I still want to do.
"I shouted for help until the others came to my rescue," Fourie said.
The worst part of his agony was the 100km journey in an off-road vehicle over rough terrain to the nearest hospital at Lephalale.
He received emergency treatment and once stabilised, he was air-lifted to the Unitas hospital.
"They cleaned the wound and doctors were amazed that I had not suffered any internal damage. Even my testicles could be saved where the bull had rammed his horns between my legs. It is truly a miracle," he said.
"One can only thank the Lord. And in future one should remember wild animals remain wild even though one might think you know them and they are tame," he said.
Fourie is expected to stay in hospital for a few more days to check that no infection sets in.