A swooping magpie has been blamed for the death of an elderly man riding a bike in Australia.
We've been told about the dangers of these duck diving birds but they're rarely ever responsible for causing someone to lose their life.
Police say a 76-year-old man was riding his bike in Nicholson Park at Woonona, Wollongong yesterday morning when a magpie started to swoop on his head.
Advert
New South Wales Police has released a statement, saying: "Witnesses report he rode off the path to avoid a swooping magpie.
"The man then collided with a fence post, causing him to be thrown to the ground, sustaining serious head injuries. He was treated on-scene before being airlifted to St George Hospital in a critical condition.
"Despite medical efforts, the man died yesterday evening (Sunday 15 September 2019).
Advert
"Officers from Wollongong Police District are investigating the incident and a report will be prepared for the Coroner."
According to Magpie Alert, there have been nearly 1,500 attacks this year alone and 176 injuries.
An Aussie family recently alerted people to how bad attacks can get, especially with children. The mum and dad revealed their son is now blind in one eye because of a swooping magpie.
The incident happened at Clarko Reserve, in the Perth suburb of Trigg last year, but Stacey and Sean have come forward now that magpie season is well now underway.
They explained that their six-year-old son, Finn, was walking through the reserve when a magpie swooped him and clocked him straight in the right eye.
Advert
"There was blood coming out both corners of his eye and his eye was just full of blood," Stacey told Channel 7's Today Tonight.
He was taken to hospital, where doctors confirmed Finn had lost his sight in the affected eye.
"As we walked into the park, I remember seeing a sign, a small sign, that said swooping magpies, and I was like, 'Okay, hey kids remember - keep your hats on'," Stacey said.
Advert
"I didn't think any more of it.
Finn's dad Sean added: "There are five or six children every year who have operations because of magpie attacks.
"If we can reduce that by two or three or four - or all of them - that's what we really want."
They've been working with the local council over the last few months to help educate people about magpies and how territorial they can be.