Police pepper spray aggressive kangaroo

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CHARLEVILLE, Australia, July 26 (UPI) -- Australian police said they used pepper spray to ward off a kangaroo after it attacked a 94-year-old woman in southwest Queensland.

Police said they responded Sunday to the Charleville home of Phyllis Johnson, 94, on a report of the woman being knocked to the ground and repeatedly kicked by a red kangaroo, the Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported Tuesday.

Senior Sgt. Stephen Perkins said the responding officers had to use pepper spray on the animal to avoid being attacked.

"Once the kangaroo was sprayed, it left the immediate area," he said. "Quite often dogs do attack police officers and we are forced to use capsicum spray on the dog to stop being bitten, but never on a kangaroo."

The kangaroo was captured and the Department of Environment said a decision on the fate of the animal will be made after it has been assessed by a veterinarian.

Johnson's son, Rob, said his mother is recovering in a hospital.

"She's got scratches and cuts on her arms and there is a piece taken out of her leg that might have to have a skin graft on it," he said. "But other than that she's bouncing around fairly well now."

He said his mother "can see the funny side of it now though."