‘Thankful to be alive’: Gordon Sargeant home after wild NT camping attack

South Australian camper Gordon Sargeant has returned home after he was speared in the bum by a wild buffalo in the Northern Territory.

A South Australian camper who was the victim of a terrifying buffalo attack has landed back home after the frightening ordeal.

On July 15 Gordon Sargeant was camping at King Ash Bay in Northern Territory when a wild buffalo charged him and two friends.

The attack left him with a punctured right buttock and extensive bruising to his legs.

The 73-year-old arrived at Mount Gambier Hospital from the Royal Darwin Hospital on July 28 before finally returning home to Beachport the next day.

Family friend Heather Burdon posted to the Facebook Beachport community group on behalf of Mr Sargeant thanking everyone who helped.

“He has a long recovery ahead, but is doing well and is just very thankful to be alive,” she wrote.

“No bum jokes please – that area, where he was gored, is intact and healing well.”

Gordon Sargeant, 73, was speared in the bum by a buffalo at King Ash Bay near Borroloola on Saturday, July 15, 2023, is recovering from his injuries at Beachport. Picture: Contributed/Facebook

After the incident Mr Sargeant told NT News he and his two friends heard what sounded like horses galloping.

“It was actually a buffalo as we know now,” he said.

“It came from behind, straight past us and then … he just put his head down and – all in one motion – just charged us.

“It was bang, bang, bang.”

Mr Sargeant thought the wild buffalo was horses galloping. Picture: Contributed/Facebook

Mr Sargeant’s camping equipment is still in King Ash Bay in Northern Territory. Picture: Contributed/Facebook

Mr Sargeant, who held onto the beast’s horns while the buffalo was near him, said he “got the brunt of it” while the friend to his right was bruised and the friend on his left was scratched.

“I was face-to-face with him, he was right against me,” he said.

“I just held onto his horns so that whatever he did with his head, I kept away to keep my stomach away from him, because that’s what they go for.”

Mr Sargeant’s camping equipment remains in King Ash Bay where he will collect it in August.