A 76-year-old woman from Australia was pecked to death by her pet rooster while she was gathering eggs at her home. According to a report in the journal of Forensic Science, Medicine and Pathology, the rooster pecked a varicose vein in her lower-left leg, causing her to bleed profusely. By the time paramedics arrived at her home, they were unable to save her and she was pronounced dead due to "exsanguination" from the ruptured vein.
Varicose veins are usually harmless and only result in cosmetic issues as the enlarged and twisted veins become visible beneath the skin. In some instances, they can cause discomfort after sitting or standing for an extended period of time. In rare cases, they can lead to more serious issues such as blood clots or ulcers.
An autopsy report found that the rooster only managed to cause two lacerations in the woman's leg, but that was enough to cause her to collapse to the ground where she bled out.
The authors of the report noted that rooster attacks are extremely rare but warned that "even relatively small domestic animals may be able to inflict lethal injuries in individuals if there are specific vascular vulnerabilities present."
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