I had a heart attack... over savage seagull
A PENSIONER suffered a heart attack after being dive-bombed by a seagull in the street.
Margaret Cruickshanks, 80, was taken to hospital after the bird swooped onto her head, hammering her skull with its beak and tearing at her hair.
After suffering chest pains following the attack, she was fitted with an emergency stent by doctors and is now recovering at home in Glenrothes, Fife.
The incident happened as Mrs Cruickshanks was walking her son’s cocker spaniel in Kirk- caldy on the afternoon of June 29.
She said: ‘I heard this gull screeching above me. I looked up and it was circling. It got lower and lower, then suddenly swooped down on me and landed on the back of my head.
‘I was absolutely petrified. It’s claw was on my left cheek and was tearing at the back of my head. It had a grip of my hair in its beak and kept pulling.
‘I have a walking stick and started waving it around. It finally flew off but was still circling and squawking. I was hysterical and screaming for help, banging on doors, but there was no answer. Eventually a man came out and helped me.’
After returning to the home of her son David, she began to feel chest pains. She took a paracetamol, then went by bus to her flat.
But when the pains continued, she dialled 999. She was told by paramedics she was suffering a heart attack and was taken to Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy. After being transferred to the Royal Infirmary in Edinburgh, she had an operation to fit a stent.
Mrs Cruickshanks has no doubt her heart attack was triggered by the seagull. She said: ‘I’m still having flashbacks. It sounds silly but I felt it was going for my eyes. I can’t sleep for thinking about it.
‘The council should do something about this. They should put the safety of humans before these aggressive and dangerous birds. What would happen if some of the children in the playground were attacked? It gave me a heart attack. Think how frightened the youngsters would be.
‘I’m still very shaken and have panic attacks.’
A Fife Council spokesman said it was working with community group Kirkcaldy 4 All to find a solution. He added: ‘We are supporting Kirkcaldy 4 All to continue with a nest and egg removal programme over the next year to combat the problem with seagulls.’