A man in his late 60s, Rod Savage, was left with two fractured ribs following an encounter with a wild stag while taking a stroll at a popular park in the UK. Rod explained how he defensively reacted by “playing dead” when the animal attacked him unexpectedly. He and his friend, Danny McNicholl, were walking in Tatton Park, Cheshire, when they came face to face with the stag just 300 yards from the park entrance.
The stag locked eyes with Rod and charged towards him around 5 pm on a Tuesday, leaving him with a wound that he likened to that of a knife. Luckily, Danny was able to divert the stag’s attention with a branch, potentially saving Rod from more severe injuries.
Recalling the frightening incident, Rod shared, “It all unfolded quickly. The stag and I had a moment of eye contact, and I knew trouble was coming. It rushed at me, causing me to fall down. I instinctively protected myself and pretended to be lifeless.” He praised Danny for his quick thinking and credited him with saving his life.
After the attack, Rod, with Danny’s assistance, managed to return to the park entrance. He received immediate aid from the park rangers at Tatton who attended to his injuries. Rod was then taken to Macclesfield Hospital, where medical professionals were concerned that his injuries might have been more severe. Fortunately, he only sustained a deep wound on his stomach, arm, and leg, and was treated without requiring surgery.
Further examinations revealed that Rod had suffered two broken ribs as a result of the incident. Doctors opted to keep him in the hospital overnight for observation, but he was discharged the next day after receiving stitches for his wounds under local anesthesia. The aggressiveness of the stag was attributed to the approaching rutting season and the scarcity of food due to dry weather conditions.
Reflecting on the event, Rod, employed at Altilium Clean Technology, cautioned visitors at the park to be vigilant and adhere to safety guidelines, emphasizing the importance of respecting wildlife. He advised park visitors to stay on designated paths, avoid distractions like phones, and exercise caution, especially during encounters with wild animals.
Rod humorously mentioned how the incident would become a memorable story for his upcoming grandchild. A spokesperson for Tatton Park reiterated the importance of maintaining a safe distance from the deer and refraining from interacting with or feeding them due to their unpredictable behavior, particularly during the autumn rutting season from September to November.