From "Oklahoma Farmer Killed by Water Buffaloes He Had Just Bought, Police Say/The farm where Bradley McMichael, 47, died has been in his family for three generations. His fiancée described him as an experienced farmer who had worked with livestock since his teenage years" (NYT).
The expression "He died doing something he loved" has come up a few times on this blog. I'm not sure I've ever discussed it — though I've had long conversations about it in real life — but it comes up in the comments, for example, in the thread accompanying "Indian stuntman dies as he uses only his hair to cross Teesta River" and "Choking to death on pancakes in an amateur pancake eating contest and why the Heimlich maneuver and mechanical suction didn't work."
Looking for those examples, I came across this from a beloved but long-gone commenter:
संदेश
42 टिप्पणियां:
I wonder why he wanted to own water buffaloes.
I suppose a tie-dye enthusiast could die dying.
Bissage is right. It sounds comforting to say a person died doing what they loved, but there's no reason to think that made the dying any less horrifying. I doubt McMichael was thinking, "well, at least I love livestock" as he was trampled to death.
With the possible exception of Hugh Hefner. . . . .
My older brother died doing what he loved.
Drugs.
In rural Asia you commonly see little kids leading water buffalo around, guiding them with small sticks. Farmer Bradley, it seems, could have used a lesson or two from one of them.
They were probably still stressed out from the auction barn environment, and not used to their new surroundings; irascible. It reads like he was gored multiple times.
There have been a few attempts to work water buffalo into cattle breeding stock for their hardiness - one notable success is the 'Beefalypso' breed, developed in Trinidad. Of course, there's always the fresh mozzarella cheese market to consider I guess. Still makes me wonder why he wanted them.
“Better pass boldly into that other world, in the full glory of some passion, than fade and wither dismally with age.” James Joyce - The Dead.
WBLM:
‘First responders were initially unable to reach the victim because of the animals' aggressive behavior, according to a news release.
Police said one of the water buffaloes was "immediately dispatched" to allow safe access to the property.
…
While investigators were at the scene, a second water buffalo "became increasingly agitated and posed a threat to emergency personnel. For the safety of those on site, the second animal was also dispatched."’
Sorry, that's 'Buffalypso'
I always seem to me like dying doing what you love the most would be the most disappointing way to go. The ultimate fuck up
I watch those nature shows on the television machine. One thing is very clear: Don't mess with water buffaloes. Even the lions are wary of them.
I became familiar with the term in aerospace, when test pilots are made aware of the risks and the potential loss of life. Of course, none of them want to die. However, I can assure you, NASA never had a problem finding new astronauts after either the loss of Challenger or Columbia.
Otherwise, I consider the term as a coping mechanism and try not to be critical about it. Same with "thoughts and prayers". Only assholes seem to think it is fun to criticize people directly when they are trying to deal with a loss. Here, I think it is being discussed appropriately and remotely from those dealing with grief.
It is a rich mine for comedy gold when the deceased dies in a way that dovetails comedically. The death comfort line I use the most however is It’s what he would have wanted. Try it next time you pass scavengers eating road kill…
There was a Vermont farmer that lived down the road from the Von Trapps place who was crushed to death by his Scottish Highland herd. Death by fuzzy cows…
Natural disaster.
He died doing what he sucked at is pretty good…
>Wilbur said...
I watch those nature shows on the television machine. One thing is very clear: Don't mess with water buffaloes. Even the lions are wary of them.<
Lions needn't be very wary of water buffalo since the two naturally exist only on different continents.
You're thinking of Cape Buffalo, one of the most dangerous animals on the planet, and any farmer who went near one of those would of course die instantly.
I wonder why he wanted to own water buffaloes.
He was wondering the same thing at the end.
Speaking of dying doing something you love, I saw this headline today:
Elderly couple burns house down during sex game involving WWII flame thrower.
Apparently the wife was really hot for her age...a regular smoke show.
City folk don't know livestock from their left elbow. Cattle of any kind can be dangerous. And not just cattle. A few years back I saw an account of a farmer in Nebraska or one of the Dakotas who had been gored to death by a reindeer.
Bob Boyd said...Speaking of dying doing something you love, I saw this headline today:
Elderly couple burns house down during sex game involving WWII flame thrower.
Thomas Wictor and his wife?
The all-time champion in the He died doing something he loved Olympics was Nelson Rockefeller.
It brings to mind Michael Hutchence. He also died doing what he loved.
@10:26 Leland said
I can assure you, NASA never had a problem finding new astronauts after either the loss of Challenger or Columbia.
Alan Bean, one of the Apollo astronauts who walked on the moon, once implied that the men who joined the program didn't do it despite the dangers, they did it because it was dangerous.
Old and slow said...
It brings to mind Michael Hutchence. He also died doing what he loved.
7/16/25, 11:03 AM
I was thinking of David Carradine, but same/same.
Kane? Of Kung Fu, also went that way? I'm mortified on his behalf. He didn't snatch the pebble in time, so to speak.
water buffalo are known to be vicious. TR said they were more dangerous than Lions.
"Pull!"
BLAM!
" Uh Oh."
" At least he died....."
"Shut the fuckup."
"I was thinking of David Carradine,"
Who died loving himself.
We have a lot of deer here in Oak Ridge- I give them a wide, wide berth when I am out walking- a stag charging me would likely end very badly for me.
What did happen to Bissage? Does anyone know?
Did you hear about the water buffalo that turned 200 years old?
It was his bison-tennial.
A Congolese tribe are looking for water buffalo to hunt.
As they travel along, one member puts his ear to the ground for a moment and then says: “Buffalo come.”
The chief asks “How can you tell?”
The man replies “Sticky ear.”
“He stopped loving himself today”
Being gored or trampled by water buffalo isn't something I'd love, but to each his own.
Fred Flintstone was a Master of the water buffaloes.
Or was he only the grand poobah.
I’ve long wished to die in bed at an age of 110, shot by the jealous boyfriend of a beautiful young woman. That would be dying while doing what I loved.
He loved being stomped on by massive bovines?
In the Philippines the local carabao (water buffalo) are traditionally cared for by children. But I think these are not of the same breed as those this fellow imported. There is a market for their milk, which is creamier than cows milk, and can be hard to get. It is the basis for some gourmet mozarella and ricotta.
I imagine that I am unique in the commentariat in actually owning water buffaloes. I started with three of them three years ago and now have eight. I can’t imagine what he did to piss them off, as they are about as easy going as you can imagine. My theory is that he approached one from the side just as it was tossing its head, as mine do frequently. Those beautiful curved horns are intended to get tigers off their backs and you really wouldn’t want to take a horn to the back or chest. I am sure that he screamed bloody murder (reasonable under the circumstance) and spooked the animals, leading to additional goring. They are BIG and it seems his experience with American livestock did him no good.
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