{
  "id": 19608211,
  "title": "‘They said I had to die’: Anti-poaching ranger recounts horrific farm attack",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/12/they-said-i-had-to-die-anti-poaching-ranger-recounts-horrific-farm",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-11-12T05:20:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Citizen",
    "slug": "the-citizen",
    "url": "https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/crime/anti-poaching-ranger-recounts-horrific-farm-attack/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Anti-poaching ranger Les Brett recounted his harrowing farm attack in the Broederstroom district of Limpopo, where he narrowly escaped death due to a faulty AK-47 he was forced to hold. Brett and his wife Natasha were attacked on November 1st, with the intruders bursting into their home through a sliding door. The attackers, who carried out the assault with military precision, quickly bound Brett and Natasha, blindfolded them, and subjected them to intense torture for hours. They demanded the safe key and money, eventually finding the safe and pouring boiling water over Brett while cutting his testicles with a bolt cutter. When a guard on patrol disturbed the attackers, they hastily fled with seven firearms, two cellphones, and a laptop, leaving valuable items behind. Brett's injuries, including a fractured hip and a smashed head and knee, were severe, but he and his wife managed to escape and call for help.",
  "summary": "Three armed men tortured a couple, poured boiling water on them and demanded money they did not have.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}