School party attacked by buffalo (From Stroud News and Journal)

School party attacked by buffalo

TWO youngsters were airlifted to hospital and others ran for their lives after a rogue buffalo charged at them during an educational school trip.

The group of 14 students and two adults from Sir William Romney's School, Tetbury were attacked by a raging lone buffalo in the Australian outback during a month long trek organised by World Challenge Expeditions.

The adventure turned to horror on Friday as the group of youngsters from Nailsworth, Woodchester, Horsley and Minchinhampton were exploring the Northern Territory's Nitmiluk National Park.

Head teacher Eric Dawson spoke to the News & Journal on Monday and described the party's close encounter with the 1,600lb bull buffalo which sent a 17-year-old boy hurtling through the air.

The boy has been treated for spinal injuries but is believed to be making a full recovery. "The group were walking along a trail when all of a sudden they came across a water buffalo in the middle of the path," explained Mr Dawson.

"The main leader told them all to stand still but the buffalo decided to charge anyway. "It caught a student and sent him flying.

"It's a little unclear what happened next." Nobody is sure whether the bull also hit a 16-year-old girl who was also injured or if her schoolmate hit her as he sailed through the air following the initial impact.

"Meanwhile the buffalo was trying to get at the others," said Mr Dawson.

"It had one of them trapped behind a tree then it managed to get hold of one of the adult leaders, getting its horns caught up in his rucksack.

"The principle leader told all the youngsters to hide behind trees and he tried to attract the buffalo towards himself.

"The buffalo eventually performed appropriately and makes its way towards him, at which point it fell in a ditch, stunned itself and ran off."

The 17-year-old boy was kept in the Katherine Hospital in the outback for several days and underwent thorough examination and observation before being released on Monday.

"When you're hit by a 1,600lb charging bull they tend to want to keep you in hospital just to make sure there are no problems and won't be any in the future," said Mr Dawson.

*For more read this week's Stroud News & Journal