A 60-year-old Australian has told how he was savagely attacked by a wombat.
Bruce Kringle is now in hospital with bites on his arms, legs and feet – the mauling lasted 20 minutes and was only ended by a neighbour with an axe.
“I thought I was a goner, I really did, those teeth are something shocking,” Mr Kringle says.
“I didn't believe a wombat would do that,” Mr Kringle’s neighbour, Beverley Pritchett says. “I've never seen it before, it wasn't so funny for Bruce Kringle.”
The 60-year-old was mauled by a wombat after he accidentally stepped on it on his way to the toilet.
He was pulled to the ground and his body clawed and scratched for 20 minutes.
“I still remember his eyes and that,” Mr Kringle says. “He charged back at me, he put his head down and hit me in the side, after that I couldn't get up. He kept backing off and coming back for about 20 minutes.”
“He's got cuts on his legs, deep bites, under his chest is another one,” Ms Pritchett says. “I think there is some on his back. He fought it off. He actually managed to lay on it to stop it and screaming for help.”
A neighbour came to his aid, but it still took an axe to kill the wombat.
“Bruce was laying on top of it, like a crocodile. Luckily there was an axe near the caravan, so I just hit it in the head,” says neighbour Rob Lillis.
Mr Kringle, who has a heart condition, remains in hospital.
Experts say a wombat attack is extremely unusual; they are considered by most to be cute and cuddly.
They usually only become aggressive when suffering a skin disease – or a step on the head.
3 News
source: newshub archive
