An 80-year-old tourist was left critically injured, with a broken hip, after a 2,000lb bull bison charged in Yellowstone and flipped him about eight feet into the air on video
A massive bull bison has reportedly hurled an elderly man into the air “like a ragdoll” in a terrifying attack that left the grandad critically injured – despite witnesses saying he did everything right.
The 80-year-old, from California, USA, suffered severe injuries including a broken hip after the 2,000lb animal charged at him at Yellowstone National Park’s Bridge Bay Campground on Friday (July 10). Unlike many wildlife incidents sparked by reckless tourists, witnesses insist the grandfather, who was visiting the iconic park, was completely innocent and kept well back from the animal.
The man had reportedly been taking an evening walk with his young grandson when they spotted the bison sitting in the dust around 100 yards away.
This was far beyond Yellowstone’s mandatory 25-yard minimum distance. They consequently stopped to take a few photos.
But the park is entering bison rutting season, when bulls can become hyper-aggressive, territorial and wildly unpredictable, The Guardian reported. Witness and former Army combat photographer Mike MacLeod said the bull was already in a frenzy before the grandfather even approached, having earlier charged a group of children who scattered safely.
The animal was then seen pacing through the campsite, Cowboy State Daily reported. Moments later, the bison reportedly stood up.
Sensing danger, the grandfather reportedly told his grandson it was time to leave and they began backing away behind a copse of pine trees. Then, a white pickup truck drove past – and witnesses say that appeared to tip the bull over the edge, the New York Post reported.
The bison subsequently charged at the truck, missed, then “locked eyes” on the grandfather and grandson in the trees and stormed into the grove. The grandson reportedly managed to sprint away, but the bull cornered the older man and struck.
In a horrifying clip, which has since gone viral, the bison hooks the man’s hip with its left horn and flips him roughly eight feet into the air. He somersaults mid-air before slamming down hard onto his side, according to Cowboy State Daily.
MacLeod said the animal then stood over the fallen man, shaking its head, as if ready to gore him again. Fearing the tourist would be killed, MacLeod dropped his camera and charged at the bison, screaming and waving his arms.
Other campers reportedly joined in and the bull finally backed off and ran away. Bystanders administered first aid, carried out a blood sweep and tried to keep the man calm until Yellowstone EMS arrived.
The tourist was rushed to hospital and remains under close medical care. His family and witnesses said he is “not out of the woods yet”.
The National Park Service is investigating, as per Your National Parks.
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