Shocking buffalo incident unraveled.
On a quiet Sunday in August, something went terribly wrong deep in the South African bush.
The dangerous safari explained.
Asher Watkins, a 52-year-old millionaire from the U.S., touched down in South Africa for a luxury trophy hunt worth £7,500.
He booked with Coenraad Vermaak Safaris—one of South Africa’s premier big-game hunting operators.
The trip took place in Limpopo Province, a region known for hosting Africa’s most dangerous game.
Watkins was accompanied by a professional hunter and an experienced tracker from the company.
On the first day of the hunt, Watkins successfully shot and killed a waterbuck—ticking off a win early.
Asher’s story highlighted.
Outside the bush, Watkins lived a high-flying life—known for brokering luxury ranches worth up to £30 million.
He made his fortune in real estate and was said to enjoy danger, speed, and the great outdoors.
His passion for adventure extended to big-game hunting, which he reportedly indulged in frequently.
Friends described him as “fearless,” while critics often pointed to his trophy hunting as controversial.
Watkins’ ex-wife Courtney and their daughter remained in the U.S. as he pursued one more “trophy kill.”
Day two’s fatal mistake revealed.
On day two, Watkins turned his sights on a Cape Buffalo—a massive beast weighing up to 200 stone.
The species is considered “the most dangerous animal to pursue in Africa,” according to the safari company.
The team tracked the buffalo deep into the South African bush, but then something went wrong.
Without warning, the uninjured buffalo turned—and charged.
With the ability to run at up to 37mph, the beast became an unstoppable missile of muscle and horn.
It gored Watkins fatally—its weight and force killing him almost instantly.
The tracker and professional hunter could only watch as the attack unfolded in seconds.
The aftermath confirmed.
Coenraad Vermaak Safaris issued a statement confirming Watkins’ tragic death.
“He was fatally injured in a sudden and unprovoked attack by an unwounded buffalo,” they stated.
They called it a tragedy and said they were “doing everything” to support Watkins’ family.
Watkins’ ex-wife Courtney later posted that they were in “shock and heartbreak ever since.”
“We never imagined we’d lose him this way,” she wrote in a private post.
His body was recovered shortly after the incident, and arrangements are being made to repatriate him to the U.S.
The internet lit up within hours of the news breaking—many calling the event “karma.”
Critics slammed the ethics of trophy hunting, while others defended his right to pursue legal game.
“It’s one thing to hunt, another to be hunted,” one user posted bluntly.
The safari company’s website notes that Cape Buffalos “kill several hunters each year.”
Experts say Cape Buffalos are notorious for charging without provocation or hesitation.
One veteran hunter told The Sun, “Once they go, they go all the way.”
The final twist: The buffalo walked away.
Watkins never got his trophy—he became the headline instead.
In the end, the buffalo walked away alive, leaving behind a bloodstained reminder of who really rules the wild.