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Australian man fatally attacked by pet deer

A 46-year-old Australian man was fatally attacked by his pet deer Wednesday morning.

An Australian man was fatally attacked by his pet deer as he fed the animal, The Sydney Morning Herald reported.

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Paul McDonald, 46, was feeding the deer on his property in Moyhu, in North East Victoria, on Wednesday when he was attacked, the newspaper reported. His wife, Mandi McDonald, 45, and son Ethan McDonald, 17, heard a commotion in their yard and went to investigate, according to The Age.

While Ethan McDonald went to get help, his mother entered the yard, where she was also attacked, the newspaper reported.

Paul McDonald, a farmer who had owned the deer for two years, died of his injuries at the scene, the Morning Herald reported.

Ethan McDonald was able to save his mother by hitting the deer in the head with a block of wood, the Australian Broadcasting Company reported. Mandi McDonald was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital and is in critical condition, the network reported.

Police fatally shot the deer to protect paramedics trying to save the couple, the Morning Herald reported.

Barry Howlett, of the Australian Deer Association, told the newspaper autumn is the rutting season for deer and can be dangerous to be around.

"An animal that would be otherwise docile for 10 months in the year, is an animal you really don’t want to be around for two months," Howlett said.