Surfers Paradise man Brian Ogibney attacked by bat

The Gold Coast’s wet weather is being blamed for an uptick of bat attacks on humans, with one man recounting his treatment for several diseases after a startling encounter.

Erratic bats are attacking humans out of desperation according to experts, who say extreme weather conditions have decimated the creatures’ food supplies on the Gold Coast.

Reported bat attacks have spiked in the past month, with Gold Coast Health confirming a “significant increase” in the number of patients requiring treatment.

So far this year there have been 17 confirmed ”encounters” with people across the city, but 10 of those alone have come in the past three weeks.

“We would normally average just one or two incidents each week,” Gold Coast Public Health physician Dr Vicki Slinko told the Bulletin.

Bites or scratches from the winged creatures can lead to rabies or the lyssavirus, which can result to serious illness or death if not treated.

Surfers Paradise man Brian Ogibney, 41, was attacked by a bat on his walk home from the grocery store recently and has told the Bulletin about his frightening ordeal.

“As I was walking down to my building, this bat flew out of a low tree and straight into me,” Mr Ogibney said.

“It happened three or four times. He would fly away, circle back, and fly into me again. It was almost like when you’re passing someone on the sidewalk, and you’re both trying to get out of the other person’s way, so you end up doing that awkward little sidewalk dance.

“Except it was a bat.”

Mr Ogibney said he later discovered a scratch on his hand, and decided to go to a doctor.

“I was stabbed by seven needles that morning,” he said.

Mr Ogibney said he was joined at the clinic by another bat attack victim, with the attending doctor claiming to have seen a bat-related injury every day for the past two weeks.

Bats are said to be going through a “starvation period” because of the weather. Picture: Liam Kidston.

Rhiannon Traish-Walker, a rescuer for Bats Queensland, blamed the increase in attacks on the weather conditions, but said the behaviour wasn’t malicious.

“The bats are going through a starvation period due to the weather,” Ms Traish-Walker told the Bulletin.

“Being winter, there is less food available, and the rain has washed out a lot of the nectar they feed on.

“As a result, we have bats that are desperate. They’re putting themselves into dangerous situations not because they’re intentionally harming humans but because they’re starving.”

Ms Traish-Walker urged anyone who encounters a starving or injured bat to step away and contact Bats Queensland for help.

According to Gold Coast City Council there are 61 known bat colonies across the region.

Originally from America, Mr Ogibney has been living on the Gold Coast for just a month and says he was not prepared for the bat presence in Australia.

“Everyone warns you when you come to Australia of all the things to watch out for,” he said. “I’m mentally prepared for the spiders, but no one ever tells you to watch out for the bats.”

“I’m never going to sleep again, but I’m okay,” he added.