Cyclist in France severely injured after being chased by wild boar
Passers-by found the 64-year-old man unresponsive
The cyclist encountered the wild boar in a wooded area of the Val-d’Oise department
PATRICK GLAUME/Shutterstock
A cyclist was left unconscious after falling from his bike while being chased by a wild boar in a wooded area of northern France.
The incident took place on Tuesday (June 2) in Saint-Leu-la-Forêt (Val-d’Oise) on a road which winds along the edge of the Montmorency Forest - covering more than 2,000 hectares and home to many wild animals.
The 64-year-old man was riding an electric bike when he crossed paths with and was chased by a wild boar, according to witness accounts reported by Le Parisien.
The cyclist was reportedly startled and tried to quickly ride away from the animal before losing control of his bike and falling over.
Passers-by found him unresponsive and alerted the emergency services just before 22:00, with the fire brigade and police officers also attending the scene.
The man had suffered a head injury and remained unconscious whilst being transported to Hôpital Beaujon in Clichy (Hauts-de-Seine).
Residents of neighbourhoods surrounding the Montmorency Forest reportedly alert the presence of wild boars on a regular basis. The animals are particularly attracted to rubbish bins left in front of apartment blocks.
What to do if you come across a boar
Boars usually avoid humans and only attack if they are injured, cornered, frightened, or a female protecting her young.
Roadusers - including cyclists - should be constantly aware of conditions on roads or wooded paths, and look for signs indicating the presence of boar. During dusk and dawn hours they should be careful and use headlights to increase vision, as reduced light can lead to accidents.
If you do encounter a wild boar, you should keep your distance, especially if it is a female with piglets.
Try to keep calm and if you have a dog with you, keep it on a lead to prevent it from getting too close to or startling the boar.
Do not turn your back to the animal, and keep it in your field of vision as you slowly move away, or let it pass without disturbing it.
Do not try to engage with them and do not take any photos with flash.
If you are charged, try to find higher ground by climbing a tree or rock. If this is not possible, stand against a tree trunk, behind a hedge, or stay close to a rock until the boar has passed by.
See this Connexion article for more tips regarding encounters with wild boar.
