Man killed, woman flown to hospital after deer attack in Moyhu

A man has been killed and a woman is suffering life-threatening injuries after the couple was attacked by their pet deer south of Wangaratta today. The horrific incident was witnessed by the couple’s son after hearing the attack.

A man is dead and a woman left fighting for life after a deer attacked them in Moyhu, south of Wangaratta today.

Paul McDonald, 46, was attacked by the family pet deer on the regional property just before 8.30am.

His wife Mandi, 45, and their son heard the attack and ran outside to see what was happening.

While the boy ran to find help, Mrs McDonald was also attacked, said Victoria Police Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Pursell.

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A neighbour called triple-0 after hearing the horrific incident.

Mr McDonald died at the scene a short time later and Mrs McDonald suffered life-threatening upper-body and leg injuries.

Mandi and Paul McDonald are victims of a deer attack in Moyhu.

Paramedics treated Mrs McDonald at the scene before she was flown to The Alfred.

A member of the small community told the Herald Sun her family had rushed to her bedside in Melbourne.

Another person said the impact on the town would be huge.

A deer on Mandi and Paul McDonald's property in Moyhu.

“The community is very tight-knit and so a lot of people know them,” the person who wished to remain anonymous said.

The deer was euthanised by police at the scene to protect the paramedics.

Speaking in Wangaratta today, Acting Senior Sergeant Paul Pursell said the tragic incident has shaken the community.

“It’s an absolute tragedy,” he said. “The family is just devastated.

“It’s beyond words how they’ve been affected by this incident today.”

Even the most friendly and docile male deer can become very aggressive and dangerous in mating season, according to the Australian Deer Association’s Barry Howlett.

It is mating season for European deer at the moment, meaning the males grow hard antlers to impress females.

“They will be very aggressive and territorial,” Mr Howlett said.

“They are a wild animal and a wild animal that loses its fear of humans is a really dangerous thing.

“It might be quite docile for most of the year but when mating season is on, you don’t go near them.”

He said it was not the first time he had heard of a deer killing a human during mating season.

“It’s tragic but not unheard of,” Mr Howlett said.

An investigation into the death is ongoing.

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