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SYDNEY (Reuters) – Australian goalkeepers Jim and Linda Smith are fortunate to be alive, said an ambulance official after being attacked by a kangaroo in northeastern Queensland.
The Smiths were feeding wild kangaroos on their property in the Darling Downs when a gray kangaroo hit Jim Smith, knocking him down.
The kangaroo attacked his wife, Linda, when she ran to help her, leaving her with a collapsed lung, broken ribs, cuts and scratches.
"It's scary, it knocked me down once or twice and once they grab you, you can see what they're doing," Jim said showing his wounds.
It was only when their son came out and hit the kangaroo with a piece of wood that the marsupial ended the attack and returned to the bush, reported the Australian press.
Linda Smith was taken to the Toowoomba hospital, where she was operated on, according to media reports.
"If the kangaroo were able to continue inflicting further injuries, his life would be, yes, in danger," said Stephen Johns, supervisor of Queensland Ambulance Service operations.
Australia has about 45 million kangaroos and it is not unusual for them to come into conflict with people while housing extends to areas where marsupials live.
They are even more likely to be driven to populated areas in search of food and water in drought-stricken areas.
Report by Stefica Nicol Bikes; Written by Karishma Singh
