It is the first time in 86 years that a fatal kangaroo attack has been reported.
The man was found by a relative on Sunday afternoon with “serious injuries” at a property in the sparsely populated town of Redmond in the state of Western Australia.
– It is believed that the man had been attacked by the kangaroo earlier in the day, says a spokesperson for the state police.
Ambulance personnel rushed to the scene, but were unable to save the man’s life.
– There was a kangaroo at the property which prevented the ambulance staff from accessing the injured man, says the police spokesperson.
The last fatal attack was in 1936
The police state that they had to shoot the animal, because it “posed an ongoing threat to rescue personnel”.
A male kangaroo of the species common in Western Australia can grow up to 220 centimeters long and weigh up to 70 kilograms.
Australian media write that the last reported fatal kangaroo attack is believed to have occurred in 1936.