A woman sustained injuries at the scene, Devon and Cornwall Police said, and she was taken to hospital for treatment after she became trapped between two fighting stags
A woman was rushed to hospital after being caught between two fighting stags in Cornwall.
The animals were caught with their antlers entangled in the picturesque hamlet of Couch’s Mill, near Lostwithiel, this morning. Police were called over public safety concerns.
Devon and Cornwall Police were informed of the incident at around 8am. A local said that two stags were fighting in the road, when a motorist became trapped between them.
A woman sustained injuries at the scene, Devon and Cornwall Police said, and she was taken to hospital for treatment. One deer managed to break itself free and left the area, with the other animal then left to recover, reports CornwallLive.
A police spokesperson said: “Police were called to reports of two stags with their antlers entangled at Couch’s Mill, near Lostwithiel at around 8am today, Tuesday 22 October. It was also reported that a woman sustained injuries. She was taken to hospital for treatment. Officers attended due to concerns around public safety. One deer broke free and left the area. The other was left to recover with no further safety concerns.”
Autumn is deer rutting season, when stags grow territorial and compete with other males by fighting and locking antlers. Forestry England states: “If two stags are of a similar size, and these behaviours don’t sufficiently establish a winner, they will literally ‘lock antlers’ and fight for dominance. The fights are ferocious and decisive and the winner takes all.”
