A South African hunter who shot a wild buffalo has reportedly been killed by another member of the herd in what has been dubbed a 'freak accident'.
According to the MailOnline, 54-year-old Claude Kleynhans was attacked by a large buffalo as he was loading the carcass of another animal onto a vehicle in Limpopo province, north east South Africa.
The animal tore the father-of-three's femoral artery and he died at he scene on the banks of the Levubu River, The Bosveld Review reports.
Kleynhans, who reportedly ran a hunting safari company in Tzanen, had been out on a guided hunting trip with clients when he died at around midday last Tuesday.
Advert
Bosveld Review reports that Kleynhans was the owner of 'Guwela Hunting Safaris' which offers a 'buffalo package deal' boasting 'Big Buffalo 100% success'.
The company offers hunting safaris for giraffes, elephants and buffalo as well as crocodiles and zebra.
The animal hunter, who was a former police officer, has been hailed as 'one of the country's finest ethical hunters' with an interest in hunting for conservation as well as trophy.
Advert
But after news emerged of his death, people have found the his public Facebook profile and posted offensive messages.
Some have branded what happened as 'karma' and said Kleynhans 'deserved what he got'.
One wrote: "KARMA you sad piece of s**t! I hope you felt it all, and it took eternity of feeling all the lives you destroyed, all the pain you inflicted and all the devastation you caused before your life snuffed out. Thank f**king God you are gone, I hope many more to follow."
Advert
With another adding: "I love when Poachers get killed by the animals it makes me extremely happy!! Hope you don't RIP you f**king sucker. You killed plenty of animals and now it was your turn you useless sick minded coward. Rot in hell."
And a third commented: "I hope his loser family reads these... Claude deserved everything he got....'"
But people have taken to social media to defend Kleynhans with one responding to a negative comment by saying: "You are a inhuman beast to say the least. You are obviously an overseas jerk that has no clue about professional hunting. Be careful what you speak over people."
Advert
The friend then added: "We will miss you my friend. God bless."
Kleynhans, who has been described as a passionate Christian, leaves behind two daughters and a son after the weekend's events.
His ex-wife, Corina van der Merwe, speaking from Kleynhans' farm in Agatha, Limpopo, said Claude and his party had shot and killed a buffalo as planned.
They were going to clear the bush around the carcass and load it when another buffalo blindsided Kleynhans.
Advert
Back in February, a big cat poacher has reportedly been killed and eaten by lions in South Africa.
The hunter was at the Ingwelala Private Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit outside Phalaborwa when he was attacked and eaten by the pride he was attempting to hunt.
Featured Image Credit: Facebook/Claude Kleynhans
Topics: Death, south africa, Community, Animals