A man was left fearing for his life after a stag plunged its antlers into his thigh in rural Scotland.
Glen Wilkinson, 56, had let his dogs out to a play in his seven-acre garden in Kishorn, northwest Scotland, around 9:30am on November 14.
As soon as the dogs ran out, they gathered in one corner – where Glen spotted a highland stag tangled in his fencing.
Glen walked over to try to help free the stag to prevent it being injured – but the buck charged at him and plunged his antler into Glen’s thigh.
Glen 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.
The dad-of-two feared for his life – until his friend, Martin Whitehead, 56, ran over to cut the wire fencing and free the animal, which then ran away.
Glen, left in a pool of his own blood, was taken to the nearest hospital, Broadford, on the Isle of Skye.
He needed 10 stitches to close the seven-centimetre gash on his leg and stem the bleeding, as well as a tetanus injection.
Glen, a builder, 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.’
Glen said the attack felt like it went on for ‘eternity’, and he only realised after he stood up that he had a hole in his leg.
The second the stag had been freed from the fencing, it ran off, which is when Glen and Martin realised the extent of Glen’s injuries.
He 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.’
Now back on his feet, Glen said he’s bruised but healing.
‘I’ve since found out you’re not supposed to help a stag when it’s tangled for this reason,’ he said.
‘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.’
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