(Northeastern Victoria, Australia) -- An Australian farmer has learned what can happen when a sleeping kangaroo gets hopping mad.

While walking his two dogs on his 20-acre farm on Monday Chris Rickard's blue heeler cattle dog "Rocky" disturbed a five-foot gray kangaroo snoozing in some tall grass.

After Rocky chased the scared marsupial into shallow water, the kangaroo began fighting back by using its forelimbs in an attempt to drown the dog.

When Rickard stepped in to save Rocky from certain death, the kangaroo attacked him.

Rickard suffered facial lacerations and a huge gash on his abdomen that nearly disemboweled him.

The animal then tried to drown Rickard.

The attack lasted about 30 minutes.

Eventually, the kangaroo escaped.

　

(Copyright 2009 by VERTEXNews/Newsroom Solutions)