Boy, 9, rescues 7-year-old from deer

WINTERSVILLE, Ohio, Oct. 13 (UPI) -- An Ohio 7-year-old who was attacked by a deer during a game of backyard football was rescued by a stick-wielding 9-year-old, authorities said.

Wintersville Patrolman Art Fowler Jr. said the male deer was on his way to a fight with another buck Saturday when he came across Brandon Hiles, 7, playing football with friends, WTOV-TV, Steubenville, Ohio, reported Tuesday.

"There were two young male bucks in the area and the one child got in between the two and the deer basically attacked him," Fowler said.

Hiles said he came across the deer when he chased his ball into the woods.

"We were playing football and the ball rolled down into the woods. I went to go get it and the deer starting charging at me," he said.

The deer stuck its horns into the boy and flipped him over, drawing the attention of Hiles' friend Wyatt Pugh, 9.

"I started running, but then I looked back and he was getting attacked and I grabbed a stick and started beating it," Pugh said.

The boys fled and called 911 from Pugh's grandmother's house. Authorities said Hiles is recovering from his injuries.

"The male deer are coming into rut. What that means is, they're starting to get aggressive. Their hormones are starting to come into play," Fowler said.