The photographer who captured a stunning bison attack in Yellowstone National Park on video has described the moments before a bison launched a tourist into the air. He said the massive bull bison had been displaying aggressive behavior for several minutes before it charged an older man walking with his grandson, struck him with its horn, and tossed him several feet into the air.
The dramatic bison attack took place on Friday, July 10, near Bridge Bay Campground, on Yellowstone Lake’s western shore.
The grandson was able to flee without getting hit, but the bison caught the older man before he could get to safety. The older man can be seen on camera sprinting through pine trees, trying to get away from the charging bison.
The bison threw the grandfather several feet into the air when it hit him. After the attack, the animal stayed close, wagging its head and standing over him after he hit the ground hard, according to That Oregon Life.
A number of onlookers yelled and approached the animal in an attempt to divert its attention from the injured man because they were afraid it would strike again.
The photographer who captured video of the attack recalled what he saw
“I was just trying to get some dramatic footage of that bison having a fit. It’s changed my idea of what to expect from these guys at this time of year, because I would not have predicted that happening,” photographer Mike MacLeod told Cowboy State Daily.
“He [the bison] started walking through the campground. He was coming up to this group of kids, who were taking pictures on their cellphones from a good distance away, and then the buffalo charged these kids.
“I used to be a combat photographer in the Army,” he explained. “I could see this thing coming.”
“From my Army days, I knew as soon as that guy was in the air that the situation had changed,” MacLeod told KTVQ News. “So, I stopped videoing and my next priority was to haze that bull off away from the victim because … I was afraid he was going to gore the guy on the ground.”
Eventually, the bison moved away, allowing the onlookers to reach the victim and get help. After the incident, the elderly man reportedly sustained severe injuries and was in a great deal of pain.
“I charged the bull and a bunch of men behind me joined me and we all hazed the bison off,” he added. “A lady was on the phone with 911. Another guy was holding his hand the whole time because he was severely injured … Another lady did a blood sweep and checked for immediate emergency injuries. People just came from everywhere to help out the situation.”
MacLeod said the man “never lost consciousness,” and he spoke with the man’s family after paramedics transported him to the hospital, and they told him that he suffered a broken leg that required surgery.