Kangaroo suspected of killing elderly man on property near Albany in WA

A kangaroo is believed to have fatally injured an elderly man near Albany then prevented paramedics from reaching his body, leading police to kill it.

The kangaroo was shot dead by police officers on the semi-rural property in Redmond on Sunday because it was “posing an ongoing threat to emergency responders”.

A WA Police spokesman said paramedics were called to the property about 5pm after a 77-year-old man was found with serious injuries.

“The ambulance crew had attended the property in relation to a man who had been located by a family member with serious injuries,” the police spokesman said.

“At the property there was a kangaroo that was preventing the ambulance crew from accessing the injured man.

“The kangaroo is believed to be a wild kangaroo that was being kept by the injured man as a pet.”

Paramedics requested police support at the property in Redmond, a sparsely populated area about 20km north-west of Albany.

Police officers attended and made the decision to kill the kangaroo.

“The kangaroo was posing an ongoing threat to emergency responders,” the police spokesman said.

“Attending officers were required to euthanise the kangaroo by firearm.”

The police spokesman said it was believed the 77-year-old victim had been “attacked by the kangaroo earlier in the day”.

The elderly man died of his injuries at the scene.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

The Albany region is home to the western grey kangaroo.

Male western grey kangaroos can grow to weigh 70kg and measure 223cm from head to tail.

Kangaroos can attack by using their forelimbs to grapple and by kicking out with their hind legs.

Their sharp claws and powerful limbs make them dangerous but attacks on humans are rare.