A man walking near floodwaters in Australia had a terrifying encounter with a kangaroo that appeared to try to drown him.
The bizarre incident unfolded on Friday morning near Port Macquarie, New South Wales, as the area continues to deal with severe flooding.
The man, Don James, was passing by pooled floodwater beside a road when a large kangaroo suddenly lunged at him. Witnesses say the animal chased him down and forced him into the water during what turned into a physical struggle for survival.
According to Kristy Lees, who was nearby in her car, the scene looked like a boxing match. She saw the kangaroo and man exchanging blows before James stumbled and fell into the floodwater. Moments later, the kangaroo appeared to pin him down under the surface. Lees said the animal held the man down long enough that she feared for his life and urged her husband to help.
Fortunately, the kangaroo got startled — possibly by another car approaching — and released James, who managed to escape and run toward Lees’ vehicle. Drenched and shaken, James described the encounter as terrifying, saying he was underwater, struggling to break free, and feared he might not make it.
The kangaroo, described as unusually large and muscular, may have been distressed after becoming stranded due to the widespread flooding. Experts say kangaroos have a defensive instinct to flee to water when threatened and will sometimes fight off predators there. However, attacks on humans are rare and often tied to stress or provocation.
Ecologists note that kangaroos have used water before in defense, with dogs sometimes being their target. While it may not be a deliberate attempt to drown, the instinct to push and hold attackers in water can be deadly.
For James, this encounter was not his first close call with wildlife. He reportedly told Lees that a year ago, he fought off a great white shark, making him wonder if nature has it in for him.
The incident comes amid deadly flooding in New South Wales that has already claimed several lives. Locals are being urged to remain cautious, not just of rising waters, but also of wildlife that may be displaced and agitated by the disaster.