YouTube buck video becomes overnight international viral sensation [updated]

A South African video of an antelope colliding with a surprised mountain biker has become a worldwide internet hit almost overnight, racking up just under 5,3-million views (by Wednesday morning) in just over a day.

During a mountain bike race near Albert Falls in KwaZulu-Natal, a province in South Africa, cyclist Evan van der Spuy was dislodged from his bike by a flying Red Hartebeest that appeared to be trying to jump over him.

“Watch the buck!” screamed another mountain biker in the video, Travis Walker, who filmed the race from a video camera mounted on his bike, before crying out a moment later: “Holy cow!”

Despite the collision, both van der Spuy and his new antelope friend emerged intact. He tweeted that the ordeal had put him in hospital with a “stiff neck”.

“Just saw the footage that put me in hospital with a very stiff neck take my hat off 2 @traviswalkermtb you got some good camera skills man,” he tweeted, thanking his riding partner who filmed the footage.

Van der Spuy also tweeted about his new fame: “…been a very busy day didn’t think i would ever be this famous“.