Buffalo herd tramples Essex couple's garden in stampede causing £25K damage

22 May 2023 , 22:01

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Buffaloes seen charging through garden (Image: Andy and Lynette Smith/BBC)

A herd of escaped buffaloes charged through a couple’s garden in Essex and eight of them stopped for a swim in their new outdoor pool causing £25,000 worth of damage.

Andy and Lynette Smith said that their garden was ruined by the stampede from animals weighing 600kg each during a 15 minute rampage in July last year.

Footage shows them destroying flower beds and knocking down fences while eight got stuck in the swimming pool.

The buffaloes had escaped from a rare breeds farm and were later rescued unharmed by the farmer.

It is believed that an electric fence was not working at the farm leading to the animals fleeing from their field and into the garden of the house in Colchester.

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The retired couple claimed that the buffaloes caused £25,000 worth of damage and NFU Mutual, which insured the farm, has said that a compensation claim had been paid, reported the BBC.

CCTV shows one buffalo falling through a cover into the swimming pool while others ran across the lawn.

“When my wife went to make the morning tea, she glanced out of the kitchen window and saw eight buffaloes in the pool,” said Andy Smith, reported the Guardian.

“She called 999 and was told the fire brigade don’t accept hoax calls. It took some persuading to get them to take us seriously. When they arrived, one of the buffaloes, spooked by their hi-vis jackets, headed straight at them.”

Looking back at the CCTV footage they were able to see how the animals had charged into the garden and eight got stuck in the pool.

“Buffaloes are top-heavy and the porcelain tiles round the pool were slippery so they lost their grip and once they were in they couldn’t get out again,” said Smith.

“The previous afternoon, we had had hosted a pool party for our young grandchildren and their friends. If the invasion had happened hours earlier, it could have been very serious.”

Mr Smith said that he was unhappy that it took so long for the insurance claim to be settled although it is reported that now the full £25,000 repair bill has been covered.

Tim Hanlon