Dog owner slashed in kangaroo attack

An Australian man has been slashed by a kangaroo after he tried to prevent it from drowning his dog Rocky.

Chris Rickard, of Arthurs Creek, Victoria, was savaged by the marsupial as it held his dog underwater, The Herald Sun reports.

Rickard, 49, said: "I thought I might take a hit or two dragging the dog out from under his grip, but I didn't expect him to actually attack me.

"I was stuck having to hold on to the dog with both hands because it was half drowned and I couldn't really see anything because the kangaroo just ripped into me."

He added: "All I could do was just keep pushing for the bank and he was trying to push me under the water, so at that point I elbowed him in the throat and that made him back off a little bit.

"I don't think I'll ever be able to watch Skippy quite the same as I used to - it might bring back a couple of bad memories."

Rocky had initially chased the kangaroo into a dam and jumped in after it but came off worse as the marsupial held him underwater.