Fish that choke people, cats that trip the elderly, a chicken that killed, and lethal leeches; the ‘harmless’ animals you need to look out for
An elderly SA woman was collecting eggs from her backyard chicken coop when an angry rooster attacked her — she died from the injuries. And it’s prompted a warning about seemingly harmless pets.
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The bizarre death of an elderly woman after being attacked by her pet rooster has prompted a public warning about the dangers of seemingly harmless animals.
The elderly woman died after being attacked by the angry animal when collecting eggs from a backyard chicken coop.
Adelaide University forensics expert Professor Roger Byard studied the case as one of many which could guide doctors conducting autopsies on what animal injuries to look for, and to warn the public about the hidden dangers.
He said the death was recent, but the age and other details of the victim were suppressed to avoid further trauma for the woman’s family.
Medical examination found as well as numerous other injuries the rooster had punctured a varicose vein with its beak, and the bleeding could not be stopped.
“Most importantly I’m trying to get elderly people have varicose veins treated with a simple operation because they are especially vulnerable to being broken,’’ he said.
“In another case an elderly SA woman died overseas in the same way when a cat scratched her leg.
“It is not just to animal attack, because we have done studies that show people have just been around their homes and bled to death by knocking their leg and the vein on something.’’
Professor Byard studied many examples of bizarre animal behaviour and said while Australians were well aware of killings such as shark or crocodile attacks, snake bites and horse falls, they had little idea about many hidden dangers.
“Many of the examples we have found of animals causing death are a warning for elderly people,’’ he said.
“For example cats are a very common tripping hazard for the elderly around the house that they may never think of. Cats like to rub against ankles and legs, as well as sit behind people and commonly lead to tripping injuries in the elderly.’’
Professor Byard’s study is published in this month’s edition of the international journal Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology.
It comes after a native Australian cassowary killed its keeper in Florida in April and kangaroo attacks are becoming more common in Australia’s urban fringes.
“Most animals are safe most of the time, but one thing to keep in mind is that big animals are also heavy animals and that is a danger,’’ Professor Byard said.
“Dolphins are considered friendly but one near-death occurred when a person was hit by a thrashing tail of a dolphin on a beach.
“Three weeks ago in Queensland there was a serious attack by a lizard (goanna) on an elderly couple in Queensland.”