Emu injures man in Oakhurst, Australia

© Alex Leggett/ Gatton Star
Emus might look silly, but don’t underestimate them.

    

A man in his 50s copped a 25 centimetre cut to his left forearm when an emu got spooked and lashed out near Maryborough on Monday afternoon.

It's believed the incident occurred during feeding time at 2pm at the Fraser Coast Wildlife Sanctuary at Oakhurst.

Advanced care paramedic Jeremy Woods said the man was conscious and in good spirits when paramedics arrived a short time later.

"The patient believes the emu might have been spooked by a nearby train track, and that's what's caused the animal to try to escape or get away from the sound," he said.

"Unfortunately at the time this gentleman just happened to be in the same vicinity, and that's when the emu has gone through with its natural instincts and scratched this gentleman on the arm."

Mr Woods said the injury was 25 centimetres long and cut deeply into the patient's forearm,

"The arm is in quite good condition, he's still got good movement, good sensation to his hands," he said.

"[He had] no other injuries at all."

The man was taken to Hervey Bay hospital in a stable condition.