Deer put down after leaving elderly man with chest injuries in London park

Deer put down after leaving elderly man with chest injuries in London park A man had been injured by a stag at the weekend after the animal approached his picnic group looking for food, a Royal Parks spokesperson said - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments A stag has been put down after a man in his 60s sustained injuries from a deer while having a picnic in a London park. The Metropolitan Police confirmed that officers received a call from the London Ambulance Service at 6.23pm on Saturday regarding a person hurt by a deer inside Richmond Park, in south-west London. Police and paramedic teams located the man in his 60s, who had suffered chest injuries. He was taken to hospital where his wounds were assessed as neither life-changing nor life-threatening, the force added. On Monday, a Royal Parks spokesperson said a man had been injured by a stag at the weekend after the animal approached his picnic group looking for food. The spokesperson said: “We understand from the police that thankfully the injuries were not life-threatening. “Sadly, the stag’s behaviour meant that it had to be put down as it was deemed to be a danger to visitors. “We suspect that this particular stag may have learnt to associate visitors with food. “If visitors follow our advice and do not feed or interfere with the deer, it is highly unlikely that they will exhibit this type of behaviour.” Royal Parks said they were “shocked and alarmed” to see videos and photographs circulating online of park visitors approaching deer in nearby Bushy Park, after issuing a warning of the danger of feeding and approaching the animals. The spokesperson said: “This is highly dangerous behaviour. “Deer in Bushy and Richmond Parks are wild animals and should never be fed, approached or touched. “Repeated feeding can cause deer to lose their natural wariness of people and seek out food from visitors, creating risks for both people and wildlife. “Getting this close, and offering food, puts people at real risk of serious injury.” They added: “Our advice is simple. Keep at least 50 metres away, never feed or touch the deer, and if one comes towards you, put all food and packaging out of sight and move away slowly and calmly. “Do not try to move the deer away yourself.” Royal Parks said that anyone who witnesses someone putting themselves, others or the deer at risk should not intervene but report it to police immediately. Richmond Park traces its origins to 1625, when Charles I took his court to nearby Richmond Palace to escape the plague in London and turned it into a hunting park, according to the Royal Parks website. It is popular with joggers and cyclists and is home to 600-strong herds of red and fallow deer. The deer have roamed the park, which spans some 2,500 acres, since 1637. Nearby Bushy Park, which is more than 1,000 acres in size, is also home to deer. Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments