Man killed by aggressive rooster as daughter shares 'malicious' attack horror

15 February 2023 , 17:55

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The bird has also previously attacked Jasper's granddaughter Josie (Image: Virginia Guinan)

The daughter of a man killed by his pet rooster has warned of the dangers of aggressive poultry after the bird also attacked her young child.

Jasper Kraus, 67, suffered a heart attack after the bird plunged its spur into his leg, causing him to lose litres of blood.

Daughter Virginia Guinan, 33, says Jasper - a dad-of-two and grandad-of-two - was an experienced animal handler, and while attacks are rare, warned owners to watch out for signs of aggression.

Trainee healthcare assistant Virginia, from south Roscommon, Ireland, said: "You wouldn't think a chicken can be dangerous - but they can be.

"It was a malicious attack, absolutely brutal. There were litres of blood all over the floor when I arrived.

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"This particular bird was thought to be a nice and docile breed, and good for children. But this shows any breed can be dangerous.

The rooster, pictured at the top, launched a savage attack on Jasper causing him to die of a heart attack after major blood loss (Virginia Guinan)

"Having pet chickens is a big thing for families now, especially getting children involved.

"For this to happen is so rare and unbelievable, but it can happen."

Retired horse trainer Jasper was out in his garden on April 28 last year when the rooster attacked from behind.

He lost so much blood that it caused a secondary heart attack - and he passed away under an hour later.

Now Virginia is warning of the dangers of owning poultry - encouraging owners to watch out for signs of aggression.

She had formerly owned the rooster which killed her father, but he took it on after it had tried to attack her daughter Josie, three.

She said: "A year earlier, the same rooster jumped the wall and jumped on Josie's back.

"After that I knew I had to get rid - we should have put him down there and then because we knew he was no good.

Virginia said Jasper took the rooster after it attacked her daughter as he 'had a heart' (Virginia Guinan)

He was a huge animal lover (Virginia Guinan)

"But my dad protested - he had too big of a heart and didn't want me to get rid of the rooster, so dad took it instead."

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Jasper, who was in remission from cancer at the time of his death, was outside visiting his dog's grave when the rooster attacked.

The animal, which has since been put down, had a random aggressive outburst and created a wound 1.5cm deep.

He was quickly losing blood from the deep wound and made it back to the house and a friend who was there called an ambulance.

Jasper collapsed from the blood loss before the ambulance arrived.

Jasper pictured during cancer treatment, alongside Virginia (Virginia Guinan)

He was experienced bird handler

Virginia recalled arriving to find her father in a pool of blood as paramedics attempted to resuscitate him.

But the blood loss from the single puncture wound had brought on a secondary heart attack.

Jasper passed away the same day, leaving Virginia and the whole family devastated.

Virginia said: "I walked in and just saw litres of blood pooled around the stairs.

"After he passed, I had to clean the blood left on the floor. It was traumatising after what had happened.

"There should be more support in place for families who go through tragedies like this."

Virginia now wants to warn others of the dangers of keeping poultry as pets - even a supposedly safe breed such as a Brahma.

Her father is believed to be one of only a handful of people in the world to have been killed in this way.

Virginia, also mum to Sofie Mai, one, said: "People want to have fresh eggs and keep chickens in their gardens.

"It's such a big hobby now - but it's not only larger animals like cattle and horses that can be dangerous.

"We don't know why it happened - that breed was supposed to be soft and cuddly.

"People should be aware of the signs and get rid of any bird as soon as they show signs of aggression."

Amy Reast