Woman pecked to death by her own rooster

A woman in Australia was killed in a freak rooster attack. And experts say it should be a warning to us all.

As published in the journal Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology, a 76-year-old Australian woman was gathering eggs on her rural property when her own rooster attacked her, pecking her several times in her lower leg. The rooster’s jabs were enough to cause significant hemorrhaging and made the woman collapse.

The authors of the scientific report — Judith Fronczek and Roger W. Byard — write that the woman had, among various medical issues, varicose veins. They said the rooster had managed to peck and strike a large varix on her leg, leading to exsanguination — meaning her body was drained of blood.

Byard, a forensic expert at Adelaide University, told 9news.com.au the lesson is a serious one.

“I want people to be aware that varicose veins are dangerous,” he said. “Elderly peoples’ skin is thin, and the veins are close to the surface. It’s extremely easy to damage the veins, and even a small hole is life threatening.”

Even small injuries can have fatal consequences, Byard warns.

“My three main points would be this; never trust a rooster, get your veins fixed and if you happen to injure yourself, perform immediate first aid. Put pressure on the wound, lie horizontally, and get assessed by a medical professional if need be.”