UK National News - Woman Suffers 'The Birds' Style Attack on Sea Front

10 July 2008

Woman Suffers 'The Birds' Style Attack on Sea Front

A woman was treated in hospital after being attacked by a seagull.

The 36-year-old was walking along the Esplanade, near the pier, at 8.45am when an adult gull swooped and started stabbing her head with its beak.

Rescue services said the "terrifying" assault was similar to a scene from the Alfred Hitchcock movie The Birds.

The woman, who did not wish to be identified, suffered three puncture wounds and heavy bleeding in the attack.

She was taken to Weston General Hospital where she received treatment.

Mark Newman, who runs the website Burnham-on-sea.com said "such incidents were rare but not unheard of".

He said it was "almost certainly an adult trying to protect a young gull".

"She was very shaken up and taken to A&E. There was a lot of blood and she required a tetanus injection.

"It was a terrifying incident for her although it only lasted a matter of seconds," he said.

Mr Newman estimates that "one or two seagull attacks" occur every couple of years in Burnham.

The 1963 horror The Birds, features an attack by a gull at the start of the film.

(DS)