Another Gull Attack: Bird Knocks Security Guard Off Bike

(Security guard Allan Plaister was knocked off his bike by a “humungous” seagull. Image: SWNS)

A seagull knocked a security guard off his bike, when it flung into his chest.

Allan Plaister, 48, from Bristol, was left in agony after the bird swooped into him and he fell to the ground.

The 14 stone father-of-one ended up of crutches, after he needed hospital treatment for severe bruising on his hand, leg and groin.

He said: “This bird dived on to my chest. The gull was massive. I was left sprawling.

“I would hate to imagine if a child was hit.”

The incident happened at the city’s Harbourside area, when Allan was cycling home from work in the early evening last Wednesday.

He is 6ft 1in but was left flat on the ground in extreme pain and needed passers-by to assist him.

He added: “What happened was something straight out of a Hitchcock film. There was no reason for it.

“The gull was absolutely massive. When you get up close to a bird coming at you like that, it is absolutely humungous.

“I was riding my along and this bird just flew down and dived on to my chest. It took me off my bike and I was left sprawling in the road.

“I think there should be more culls – it is getting out of hand. If it has happened to me, I would hate to imagine if a child was hit by a bird.”

(Angry bird: seagulls keep hitting the headlines for attacking people and pets. Image: Rex)

This latest attack is part of a recent spate of injuries caused to humans and pets by gulls.

They are protected from culls under the 1981 Wildlife and Countryside Act, but David Cameron recently pledged to re-look at what might be done to help address this situation.

A spokesman for Bristol City Council said that it is one of a few local authorities to take action.

He said: “We have £200,000 available for a wider gull programme, which explores the use of other techniques, such as netting and using hawks and falcons.”