A man was left shaken and needing stitches after a terrifying encounter with a stag in his garden.
Glen Wilkinson, 56 let his dogs out to play in his seven-acre garden in Kishorn, northwest Scotland, but they quickly gathered in one corner, where a highland stag was tangled in the fencing.
Attempting to free the stag, Glen was charged by the six-foot animal, which plunged its antler into his thigh, knocking him to the ground. Glen managed to grab the antlers and hold them steady, fearing for his life, until his friend Martin Whitehead intervened, cutting the wire fencing and freeing the stag.
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Glen was rushed to hospital, requiring 10 stitches to close the seven-centimetre gash on his leg, as well as a tetanus injection. Recounting the ordeal, Glen said: “The stags come into my garden all the time and they’re normally good as gold – I’ve never had issues before.
“But this one had got its antlers caught on the fencing – he was thrashing about and I thought he’d end up injuring himself.
“He went still and I thought he’d tired himself out – but then he charged me and took me off my feet.
“I was scared for my life – whenever I let go of his antlers to try and untangle him he’d try to go for me again.
“It felt like it went on for an eternity.”
He added: “It was only after the stag had gone that I tried to stand up and realised I was covered in blood.
“I dropped my trousers and there was a hole in my leg.”
In the moments before the attack, Glenn said stag seemed exhausted and lowered its head, which led him to believe it was safe to get closer.
“He lowered his head at one point and I thought he was tired, so I got closer for a better look – that was when he took his chance to go for me.”
“He was stronger than I thought,” he added.
Now recovering at home, Glen revealed he’s bruised but mending. He learned a tough lesson, explaining: “I’ve since found out you’re not supposed to help a stag when it’s tangled for this reason.”
Despite the ordeal, Glen doesn’t hold a grudge against the animal: “I don’t blame the stag – he was probably as scared as I was. He didn’t know I was trying to help him.
With a chuckle, he concluded, “Now I know, I won’t be doing it again.”
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