A MAN feared for his life and was left needing stitches after being attacked by a stag which plunged its antlers into his thigh.
Glen Wilkinson, 56, was rushed to the local hospital where he was given 10 stitches to close the seven centimetre gash on his leg.
The father-of-two also received a tetanus injection.
Glen, who lives in Kishorn, northwest Scotland, was letting his dogs out into the garden when they immediately gathered in one corner.
It was at this moment he spotted the highland stag tangled in fencing and went over to go and release the animal.
But when he tried to free the buck to avoid it injuring itself, the animal charged at him and plunged his antler into Glen’s thigh.
He said: “He was uprooting the fencing and trailing it down the garden – even pulling out the posts.
“So I went over to see if there was anything obvious I could do to help.
“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 knocked to the ground by the six-foot animal and had to grab both its antlers and hold them steady to prevent another blow.
He added: “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 was eventually rescued by his friend, Martin Whitehead, 56, who ran over to cut the wire fencing and free the animal, which then ran away.
It was at this point they both realised the extent of Glen’s injuries.
Glen said: “By then, the adrenaline was beginning to wear off and my leg was aching a lot.
“Before then, I was too intent on holding its antlers to feel the pain.”
Glen – who was left in a pool of blood – was then rushed to the nearest hospital, Broadford, on the Isle of Skye by his daughter, Alex Wilkinson.
Now back on his feet, Glen said he’s bruised but healing.
He added: “I’ve since found out you’re not supposed to help a stag when it’s tangled for this reason.
“I don’t blame the stag – he was probably as scared as I was. He didn’t know I was trying to help him.
“Now I know, I won’t be doing it again.”
