Woman injured after two stags 'lock antlers and fight' in road

A woman was left injured after meeting two stags with entangled antlers fighting in the middle of the road. Police officers arrived at the scene near Lostwithiel, Cornwall at around 8am today (Tuesday, October 22) amid public safety concerns surrounding the animal's behaviour.

According to a local resident's account to CornwallLive, a motorist found herself caught between the two clashing stags. The police reported that one of the woman sustained injuries during the incident and required hospital treatment, reports Cornwall Live.

Following the chaos, one of the deer managed to free itself and vacated the vicinity, allowing the second stag to recuperate without further concern for public safety.

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 marks the deer rutting season, during which stags become more territorial and often engage in combat with other males to establish dominance. These duels can escalate to full-fledged battles if size assessments and posturing fail to determine a victor.

Forestry England describes these clashes as intense and conclusive encounters, with the stakes being high and winners claiming absolute control.