Stag put down after attacking man in Richmond Park
A stag was put down in Richmond Park after attacking a man in his 60s, causing chest injuries. Royal Parks stated the deer had become accustomed to seeking food from visitors, issuing a warning against feeding wild animals due to the danger it poses to both animals and people.
Why it matters
This incident highlights the serious dangers of human-wildlife interaction when boundaries are not respected, leading to tragic consequences for both the person and the animal, and serves as a critical public safety warning.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, The stag was put down after attacking a man in his 60s (library photo)
A man in his 60s suffered chest injuries after being attacked by a stag in Richmond Park on Saturday.
Royal Parks said the male deer had approached the man's picnic group looking for food, and had since been put down.
Emergency services were called to the south-west London park at 18:16 BST following reports of a deer attack. The Met said a man was taken to hospital, where his injuries were assessed as neither life-threatening nor life-changing.
The charity which maintains London's Royal parks has issued a warning to stay 164 ft (50m) away from the animals following what they said was a rise in visitors feeding wild animals.
A Royal Parks spokesperson said: "We understand from the police that thankfully the injuries were not life-threatening.
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