Kangaroo’s vicious attack
A terrifying attack by a deranged boxing kangaroo left this animal-loving family fearing for their lives
Queensland grandmother Linda Smith is best known in her local town of Millmerran as the “Roo Whisperer”.
Linda devotes a lot of her time caring for drought-stricken kangaroos, so it came as a complete shock last month when “one very hot-headed” eastern grey male buck mounted a frenzied attack on the 64-year-old, her husband Jim, 66, and their eldest boy Sonny, 40.
“He wanted blood, there’s no doubt in my mind,” Linda tells Woman’s Day in the family’s first interview since the attack.
“We feed up to 30 roos a day, especially during this crippling drought. A big grey mongrel of a thing with angry eyes took some feed and then suddenly lunged at Jim. There was blood and flesh and dust everywhere. I screamed my lungs out – I thought we were dead!”
Linda still finds it difficult to talk about what happened next.
“I jumped in the middle to break them up with a broom handle, and I offered him some bread,” she says. “He wasn’t remotely interested, tossing me to the ground like a ragdoll. I’m 152cm and 45kg wringing wet, and he had to be twice that. I thought I was going to bleed out right there.”
BLEEDING FROM TOP TO TOE
“There was this surreal moment when I stumbled to my feet, in so much pain, bleeding from top to toe. I held his paws, looked up into his eyes and asked why he was hurting us when we’ve only ever shown kindness.
“I thought I had him, but I was so wrong. He suddenly reared, and with all his strength had another shot at me. This time I knew he wasn’t going anywhere until he’d finished me off.”
What Linda didn’t know was that her desperate screams were heard by Sonny who came running to his parents’ aid.
Jim recalls the moment his brave son jumped in to protect his mum, armed with just a timber plank.
“By now our roo mate was like a raging bull,” reveals Jim. “He attacked Sonny and then went to have a go at Linda again... with all his strength Sonny biffed the bugger hard on the noggin. He jumped off like lightning into the bush – no doubt with a heck of a sore head!”
SEVERE INJURIES
Missing a major artery by just millimetres, Linda was rushed to Toowoomba Base Hospital with a collapsed lung, broken ribs, multiple lacerations and extensive internal damage. Doctors feared she may even end up losing a limb because of the risk of contracting the deadly sepsis virus. The wildlife carer remained in hospital for weeks.
Finally back home, Linda has made a remarkable recovery. Her battle scars serve as a constant reminder just how close she came to losing her life.
“I want to make one thing very clear – I don’t think he should be destroyed,” she says adamantly. “Steve Irwin wouldn’t have wanted every stingray killed. It won’t change a thing.
“My life flashed before me that day. I thought of our grandson Tristen, who is only seven, our beautiful daughter Carly and precious Sonny. I got a second chance at life, and know more than ever what really matters.
“It’s also one heck of a yarn for the grandson to tell his mates, about that time his gran took on the boxing kangaroo – and won!”
‘I knew he wasn’t going anywhere until he’d finished me off’