Woman injured after getting caught between two warring stags

A woman was rushed to hospital after getting caught between two stags that had locked antlers in the middle of the road. 

Police were called to reports of two stags with their antlers entangled in the hamlet of Couch's Mill, near Lostwithiel, in Cornwall yesterday morning. 

A local told CornwallLive that two stags were fighting in the road, when a motorist became trapped between them and was left injured. 

Devon and Cornwall Police said she was taken to hospital for treatment. 

One deer managed to break itself free and left the area, with the other animal then left to recover.

A police spokesperson said: 'Police were called to reports of two stags with their antlers entangled at Couch's Mill, near Lostwithiel at around 8am today, Tuesday 22 October.

'It was also reported that a woman sustained injuries. She was taken to hospital for treatment. Officers attended due to concerns around public safety.. One deer broke free and left the area. The other was left to recover with no further safety concerns.'

Autumn is deer rutting season, when stags grow territorial and compete with other males by fighting and locking antlers. 

Forestry England states: 'If two stags are of a similar size, and these behaviours don't sufficiently establish a winner, they will literally 'lock antlers' and fight for dominance. The fights are ferocious and decisive and the winner takes all.'