Elk fires on hunter

STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Sept. 28 (UPI) -- A Swedish man has a hunting tale to tell -- the one about being lucky to be alive after being fired on by an elk.

The incident occurred when a hunting partner of Sven-Erik Radlund shot and wounded a bull elk in northern Sweden, Expressen reported.

When two dogs accompanying the hunting party approached the injured animal, the hunter held his fire because he was concerned that the dogs could start fighting, he told the newspaper. As he was about to leash one of the dogs, the elk lurched forward and attacked Radlund with his eleven-pronged antlers, knocking the hunter to the ground.

He was able to deflect the antlers of the charging animal, but the elk's hind legs became entangled with the rifle trapped under Radlund's body and a shot was fired.

"It went just past my head," he said.

But after being treated for some chest injuries and a swollen lip, Radlund told Expressen, "I'll be back out hunting again."