A Pretoria doctor died in front of his son on Tuesday morning when a buffalo attacked him on his game farm.
Willie Cronjé, 44, who had a medical practice in Queenswood, was also a part-time game farmer.
He and his son, Willem, 18, were on his game farm Uitkyk, about 20km from Boshof in the Free State, when the tragedy occurred.
A local vet had sedated two buffaloes in order to do blood tests before the animals were to be sold.
Tried to close gate
Beeld columnist Blou Willem Theron from Pretoria, a friend of the family, said one of the buffaloes woke up in the boma and stormed at Cronjé.
Cronjé apparently wanted to close a gate in the boma to stop the buffalo from going into the wrong pen.
He died on the scene.
Theron said Cronjé had been a well-known and popular doctor in Polokwane, Limpopo, before moving to Pretoria two years ago.
“We have lost a big man. It is very difficult and sad for the family,” said Theron.
Cronjé also leaves his wife Liesl, daughter Elisma, 16, and his parents Willie and Cora Cronjé.
An inquest will be held.
– Beeld
[Story by Christal-Lize Thomas, Beeld appeared on News24.com]