Briton Christopher Preece hacked to death in brutal machete attack in South Africa farm robbery

Capt Dhlamini said the robbers stole about £218 and a mobile phone

A British man who ran a nature reserve on a rural farm in South Africa has been killed in a robbery, police said today.

Christopher Preece, 54, died in an attack at his farm near the town of Ficksburg, close to the border with Lesotho, on Saturday night, said Captain Phumelelo Dhlamini, of the South African Police Service.

Capt Dhlamini said Mr Preece had gone outside to investigate why the power had been cut at the farm, called Fleur des Lis, when three men attacked him with machetes.

Mr Preece bled to death. His 56-year-old wife was seriously injured in the attack and is being treated in hospital.

Capt Dhlamini said the robbers stole about 350 US dollars (£218) and a mobile phone.