A millionaire from the US who hunted big game has been gored to death by a buffalo that he intended to kill.
Asher Watkins was gored by a Cape buffalo during a hunting expedition in South Africa’s Limpopo province on August 3, per the Daily Mail.
The 52-year-old was on safari with Coenraad Vermaak Safaris (CV Safaris) when the fatal incident occurred, cutting short what he intended to be a dream trip.
Watkins, a successful ranch real estate executive and managing partner at Watkins Ranch Group, had been tracking a 1.3-ton bull with a professional hunter and animal tracker when the animal turned on them, per the Metro.
According to CV Safaris, the buffalo had not been shot and showed no visible signs of injury when it charged suddenly and without warning.
“Asher was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo,” CV Safaris said in a statement. “He was tracking it together with one of our professional hunters and one of our trackers. This is a devastating incident, and our hearts go out to his loved ones.”
According to reports, the buffalo charged at a speed of approximately 35 mph (56 km/h), slamming into Watkins and killing him almost instantly.
Watkins’ mother Gwen, stepfather Tony, and brother Amon were at the safari lodge when the news reached them.
The hunting party had flown in from the U.S. just days earlier and was transported to the Bambisana Concession via private aircraft. On the first day, Watkins successfully hunted a waterbuck, but the second day brought disaster.
The company confirmed they are in close contact with Watkins’ teenage daughter, Savannah, and his ex-wife, Courtney, both of whom were described as central figures in his life, as reported by the Guardian.
Though divorced in 2013, Watkins and Courtney shared custody of Savannah and remained close.
Courtney shared a moving tribute online, writing: “This photo is from another time, another chapter of our lives - but it’s one that will always be a part of our daughter’s story.
"On Sunday, August 3, Savannah’s father, Asher Watkins, died suddenly in a tragic accident involving a Cape buffalo while on a hunting trip in South Africa. It’s a reality that’s still hard to put into words. Our hearts are heavy as we navigate the days ahead, especially for Savannah as she grieves her dad.”
She added: “We’ve been in a state of shock and heartbreak ever since, trying to process not just the loss, but the complexity that comes with it. Thank you to everyone who has reached out, prayed, or simply held us in your thoughts. Your love has truly carried us through the hardest few days of our lives.
“The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. —Psalm 34:18."
Savannah, believed to be 16, was described by friends as "in bits" after losing her father, who was not only a parent but her best friend.
A close family friend added: “He spent every spare moment he could with Savannah and shared his life with her, and nobody could love a daughter more than he did.”
Known as the "Black Death," Cape buffalo are responsible for an estimated 200 human deaths annually across Africa.
Weighing up to 1.5 tons and measuring over 11 feet in length, these animals are notorious for their aggressive behavior and unpredictable attacks - even when unprovoked.
His death comes amid renewed scrutiny of big game hunting, especially following the recent controversial killing of Blondie the Lion in neighboring Zimbabwe - an incident bearing chilling similarities to the infamous 2015 death of Cecil the Lion.
In Blondie’s case, a collared research lion was allegedly lured out of a protected reserve and shot by an American trophy hunter, sparking global backlash.
South African authorities have reportedly launched an inquest into Watkins’ death.