A Free State farmer says he needed to jump into his pool after being attacked and thrown with petrol.

Andries Smith Myburgh explained that he was having lunch at his farmhouse in Vandermerwesdam when he smelled smoke outside his home. When he went to investigate, he was attacked by two suspects.

Police spokesperson Brigadier Motantsi Makhele says Myburgh was attacked with a knife and was then thrown with petrol. He managed to pull out his firearm and fired several shots, after which he realised he was on fire and jumped into his swimming pool. The duo escaped unharmed. This comes as the Free State farming community remains tense following the murder of 21-year-old Brendin Horner.

Image: eNCA