Two “aggressive” water buffaloes fatally attacked an Oklahoma man before confronting — and delaying — police and firefighters who responded to care for the victim, authorities said Monday.
Brad McMichael, 45, died on Friday from injuries he sustained from the large animals he had purchased a day prior. Jones Police Chief Bryan Farrington said in a statement that the emergency call for help came at about 8:35 p.m. local time on Friday night in the small town of Jones, about 20 miles outside of Oklahoma City, police said.
First responders, however, were “initially unable to reach the victim due to the aggressive behavior of the animals.”
First responders killed one water buffalo, allowing them to get to McMichael, who “had sustained multiple deep lacerations that proved to be fatal,” Farrington said.
As first responders continued their work, a second water buffalo “became increasingly agitated and posed a threat to emergency personnel” and those on site that were also dispatched, according to the police statement.
The two animals had been purchased a day earlier, police said.
“It is believed that while tending to the animals, he became trapped inside their enclosure,” Farrington said of the victim.
Running the farm had been a “dream” come true for McMichael.
“Most are aware by now we lost Bradley on Friday in a tragic accident,” according to a Sunday statement posted by McMichael Farms. “His farm was his dream, and I had the privilege of helping him with it for a little while.”
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