US hunter killed by deer he thought was dead

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - A hunter in the U.S. state of Arkansas died this week after he approached a deer he shot, thinking it was dead.

Thomas Alexander, 66, was an experienced hunter. He had shot the buck Tuesday while hunting in the Ozark Mountains with a historic .50-caliber muzzleloader-type firearm.

He assumed the animal was dead, and was gored by the deer when he went to check on the body.

The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission recommends waiting at least 30 minutes before approaching a shot animal, and it is unclear at what point Alexander left his deer stand to check on the buck.

He had sent a text message to his nephew to tell him he shot the deer at roughly 6:45 p.m., Keith Stephens, a spokesman for the commission, told Anadolu Agency.

The nephew then left for his uncle's house to help him clean the carcass, but discovered his uncle had not been heard from. At that point he decided to go check on Alexander who he found wounded, but alive.

The nephew then called Alexander's wife, who phoned emergency responders, but Alexander died on his way to a nearby hospital.

Alexander had several puncture when he arrived at the hospital, leading officials to determine he had been gored.

But it is unclear if he died from the wounds, or a pre-existing condition.

His body will be sent for autopsy in Little Rock, Arkansas, according to Stephens. Foul play is not suspected, he said.