'Straight into the eye': Girl, 12, hospitalised after magpie swoop on walk home from school in WA
A routine walk home from school has left a 12-year-old girl in hospital after a magpie attack in WA's south-west.
Sam Moodie's mother is now speaking out to warn others as Nicole Moodie fears the worst for her daughter's eyesight.
"I've always taught my kids not to look up when they hear a bird," Nicole told 9News.
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Sam Moodie was hospitalised after magpie swoop on walk home from school in Australind, WA. 9News
"She was head down and it's just come from the front and straight into the eye."
The 12-year-old was walking across her school oval in the town of Australind when she was swooped by a magpie and attacked in the eye.
"I could just see it in her face, she was in a lot of pain," Nicole said.
"She's got a high pain tolerance but she was very pained, she was crying and panicking as well."
The Year 7 student has undergone two surgeries and is now at Perth Children's Hospital.
While the extent of the damage still unknown, Sam may never see out of her left eye again after the bird's beak caused damage to the lens.
The 12-year-old was walking across her school oval in the West Australian town of Australind when she was swooped by a magpie and attacked in the eye. 9News
The family doesn't blame anyone but says other students had issues with the magpie before.
"From what I understand, they had moved the baby the day of, and obviously dad was still where he was, so he was a bit annoyed, I think," Nicole said.
"It's just a really bad situation where she was in the wrong place at the wrong time."
While magpie breeding season is at the tail end, experts say there's still a risk.
The Year 7 student has undergone two surgeries and is now at Perth Children's Hospital. 9News
"When the chicks are in the nest, and the males have a peak of testosterone around that time and that's when they are the most aggressive or defensive," Curtain University ecologist Associate Professor Bill Bateman told 9News.
If you're heading out for a walk, the advice is to be alert - avoid magpie hotspots, wear a broad-brim hat and put on some sunglasses.
"The best thing to do is, if you're swooped by a magpie, is to just to keep moving and get out of the area," Bateman said.
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