Man attacked by kangaroo victoria cliff des 20220531 p5yhqe.html – Breaking News & Latest Updates 2026
Advertisement
Advertisement
This was published 4 years ago

'It was a six-foot mad roo': Man fights kangaroo for six minutes in Victoria

Serena Seyfort and 9News Staff

Powered by

Shocking vision has emerged of a man being attacked by a kangaroo for more than six minutes in central Victoria.

Heathcote man Cliff Des told Today how the large animal set upon him when he went to see what his dogs were barking at near his backyard.

"It was a six-foot mad roo trying to rip my little dogs out of the yard," he said.

Advertisement

READ MORE: Icy polar blast to sweep Australia as winter looms

The massive roo can be seen stomping on the man as he stumbles to the ground while trying to flee.

The massive roo can be seen stomping on the man as he stumbles to the ground while trying to flee. 9News/Instagram

"I went near it, about 30-foot away to try to shoo it away but it didn't want to go away."

Des then ran back to his yard, with footage showing the kangaroo then stomping on him as he tries to flee.

"I fell near a stick, and after three whacks with the stick, it snapped like a carrot."

The 59-year-old pinned the kangaroo after it continued to attack him.

"I thought this guy means business, he was going to mongrel me if I didn't, I took him to the ground.

Cliff Des fought off an angry kangaroo. Nine

Advertisement

"It tried to gouge my face. I put my head down so it gouged me on the top of my head. It bit my finger. Then it put its back claw through my leg, about an inch-and-a-half through my back leg, shredded my pants down to the cuff."

Des then tried to run away again and it chased him around his car, with the ordeal lasting six minutes and 22 seconds.

"I didn't come out that good. I've got a few bruises and scars on me.

"It mongreled me real good."

Advertisement
Advertisement

Des said it was fortunate the attack happened to him, seeing a lots of elderly people and kids also walked through the area.

READ MORE: Drinking coffee everyday could help you live longer, study reveals

The kangaroo bit his finger. Nine

"It could have been worse. It could have been one of them," he said.

Advertisement

However, Des said he held no resentment towards kangaroos after the encounter, saying humans were on kangaroos' land.

"We built our roads over theirs. They're a beautiful animal.

"What I can take from the whole scenario is just don't go near them.

"They can snap...we don't know how they think."

Advertisement
Advertisement

The kangaroo hopped away uninjured.

A previous version of this story incorrectly reported the encounter as happening in Ballina, NSW.

email icon

Contact us

Share a tip-off, video or photo with us

Most viewed in Australia

More to explore