Woman and son seriously injured during a giraffe attack

The wife and son of a British scientist are in critical condition after being attacked by a giraffe in a wildlife preserve in South Africa.

Three-year-old Katy Williams and Finn were flown to Johannesburg on Monday after being trampled by a giraffe with her calf.

Sam Williams, who works at the Blyde Wildlife Estate, said the giraffe may have seen his wife and son as a threat.

In a statement, he said that he "would take one day at a time and stay positive".

His wife and son would be in stable but critical condition in a private hospital in Johannesburg.

Mr. Williams, born in Britain, and his American wife (who is also a British resident) are both scientists with post-doctoral experience in animal-related fields. The family lives and works in the Limpopo Province Reserve in South Africa.

It is understood that Mrs. Williams, 35, and Finn were attacked Monday around 18:00 local time, about 150 meters from their home.

Mr. Williams, who was coming back from a race, witnessed the attack and managed to hunt the giraffe before calling the emergency services.

He described the accident as an "unfortunate act of nature", speculating that the giraffe – who is not a typically aggressive species – had defended his calf for two months.

The doctors operated on Finn Tuesday morning to relieve the pressure in his brain due to injuries sustained during the attack.

"Dr. Sam Williams would like to thank all the doctors and hospital medical staff for their efforts to give his wife and son the best chance of recovery," said Marina Botha's statement. 39, lawyer representing the family.

"The family said that she had decided to take one day at a time and stay positive."

Riaan Cilliers, director of the Blyde Wildlife Estate, said: "We are all shocked by this very sad incident and we are making sure that the family participates in our prayers."