News

Rue for rousing kangaroo

November 24, 2009 Edition 1

MELBOURNE: A kangaroo startled by a man walking his dog attacked the pair, pinning the pet underwater and slashing the owner's abdomen with its hind legs.

Chris Rickard, 49, elbowed the kangaroo in the throat, ending the attack. He was in a stable condition yesterday.

He said he was walking his Australian cattle dog, Rocky, on Sunday morning when they surprised a sleeping kangaroo in Arthur's Creek north-east of Melbourne. Rocky chased it into a pond, where the kangaroo turned and pinned the dog underwater.

When Rickard tried to pull his dog free, the kangaroo turned on him.

Kangaroos rarely attack people, but will fight if they feel threatened.

"It was a shock... they don't go around killing people."

Rocky was "half-drowned" when Rickard pulled him from the water. - Sapa-AP