Father of three aged 57, killed by water buffalo
echo.newsdesk@walesonline.co.uk
A FATHER who was raising water buffaloes to make soap from their milk has been killed by one of the animals.
Ralph Jump, 57, was crushed to death in the incident, which happened at a farm in Gwehelog, near Usk, in Monmouthshire, at about 2.50pm on Tuesday. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
His 19-year-old son Peter sustained critical injuries during the incident, and was airlifted to the University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, for treatment by the Welsh Air Ambulance.
Mr Jump’s 22-year-old daughter Isabel, who was also involved in the family business selling hand-wrapped bars of the scented soap, is also thought to have been injured when the animal rampaged at their village farm.
She is thought to have suffered a serious injury to her leg.
Father-of-three Mr Jump, also known as Jon, was the managing director of a company supplying heating equipment and ran the three-acre farm on rented land as a sideline with his two children.
Val Smith, a county councillor, said: “It’s a lovely quiet area, lots of smallholdings and small farms. This is a dreadful thing to happen. My sympathies to all involved.”
The buffalo milk soap was sold through a business called The Bufalina Soap Company.
On its website, the company says: “We make our soap with the milk from our herd of Mediterranean water buffalo.
“Around the world this buffalo breed is famous for its dairy products such as mozzarella, gelato and ice cream.
“The richness of the milk makes it ideal for making a creamy, luxurious and gentle soap which leaves the skin feeling soft and moisturised,” it says.
A neighbouring farmer said: “Jon approached us last year about buying some hay for his buffalo.
“We asked him what he was doing and he said he was trying to diversify the farm.
“I think he had about a dozen buffalo at the farm and had bred a couple of calves over the past year or so.”
The Jump family rented the farmland from the Pontypool Park Estate.
A spokesman said: “It is a terrible tragedy and we feel for them.
“The Jumps are very nice people and we feel desperately sorry for them.”
The family moved to the farm called Upper Berthllwyd about six years ago before introducing the buffaloes over the last few years.
On its website, the Wildlife Trust of South and West Wales said the animals usually posed no risk to humans.
“Given their size, water buffalo are generally intelligent, docile creatures, who respond well to gentle handling,” it said.
A spokesperson for Gwent Police said the water buffalo has since been destroyed.