Awards nod for buffalo hero cops
TWO police officers who faced down a water buffalo that killed two people are up for bravery awards – after risking their lives to tackle the rampaging beast.
PCs Mark Burbidge and Owain Smallwood acted when the animal attacked farmer Ralph Jump, 57, and his son Peter, 19, crushing them to death.
The two officers confronted the bull called Yolo as they tried to stop it from harming Ralph’s wife Josephine and daughter Isabel, 22.
The tragedy unfolded at the family farm in Gwehelog, near Usk, Monmouthshire, where the Jumps ran a farm business making luxury soap from buffalo milk.
The Police Federation described the two officers as “fearless” after their actions in May last year.
It said: “PC Burbidge could see that a mother and daughter were also in the field, using poles to try and distract the buffalo away.
“Without hesitation he entered the field and shouted to the two women to leave.
“He approached the buffalo, just as it charged at the daughter who was knocked to the ground.
“PC Burbidge ran towards the daughter, picking up two poles as he did so, and began beating them to distract the animal.
“He struck the buffalo, allowing time for the daughter to crawl away. PC Smallwood arrived on scene to help.
“The officers formed a protective
line between themselves and the buffalo to allow the Welsh Ambulance Service to treat the victims.
“Their actions allowed the safe landing of HeliMed to recover the men.”
Ralph and Peter Jump were killed in the attack and Isabelle suffered serious leg injuries.
The buffalo was later put down by firearms officers.
Ralph Jump had rented the idyllic country farm near Usk to start a sustainable
buffalo soap business with his family.
Mr Jump – managing director of a heating company – hand-reared the buffalo at their three-acre farm along with his youngest two children.
Daughter Isabel organised the sales of the hand-wrapped bars of scented soap – and the Bufalina Soap Company started selling them ahead of last Christmas.
Son Peter worked full-time at the family farm while older brother Sam is a talented musician and aspiring songwriter.
But their green business dreams were shattered when one of the buffaloes attacked at their picturesque farm in the Wye Vallley.
Mr Jump was MD of the Wunda Group, based at nearby Caldicot. The company supplies heating equipment and employs 56 people.
The farm is the base of The Bufalina Soap Company – selling a range of scented buffalo soap from £4 to £42.