Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Man dies after being attacked by ‘aggressive’ chicken

When Jasper Kraus was coming in and out of consciousness, he said the word ’rooster’

Sravasti Dasgupta
Thursday 16 February 2023 10:56 GMT
Comments
Related video: Northern Ireland health workers stage 24-hour strike in pay and staffing dispute

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

An Irish man who had a heart condition died after being mauled by an “aggressive” Brahma chicken living on his property.

Jasper Kraus of Killahornia was attacked by the chicken on 28 April last year, reported The Irish Examiner, citing a recent inquest.

His tenant Corey O’Keeffe said he heard Kraus screaming during the attack and saw blood spurting from his leg, as well as a large wound on his calf.

Mr O’Keeffe said he called emergency services, tended to Kraus’s wound on his leg, and talked him through CPR for 25 minutes before the ambulance arrived.

Mr O’Keeffe said when Kraus was coming in and out of consciousness, he said the word “rooster”.

Authorities said the man was found lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood and had a wound on the back of one of his legs.

Garda Eoin Browne of the Clonark neighbourhood told the inquest that he was called out to the scene of the sudden death, where he met paramedics.

He was informed by them that they had carried out CPR, but without success. Brahma is an American breed of chicken. Dr Ramadan Shatwan told the inquest that while the deceased’s face was covered in dry blood, there were no cuts to his face and his cause of death was due to lethal cardiac arrhythmia.

Kraus’s body was taken to the mortuary of Roscommon Hospital and later for a post mortem to the University College Hospital.

Kraus’ daughter Virginia Guinan told the inquest that she had dropped shopping off at her father’s house around noon on the day of his death. According to Ms Guinan, the family “knew his heart was bad”.

When she went inside, he was asleep and she did not want to wake him. Kraus’s dog had died recently and he was upset, she said.

Ms Guinan said her father was in remission from cancer and previously had renal failure as well. He was also on a lot of medication at the time.

She was contacted by Mr O’Keeffe, who informed her about the incident.

When she reached the house, she saw blood all over the floor and paramedics performing CPR on her father.

She said she “realised that it must have been the chicken” that caused her father’s death.

Mr O’Keeffe said the Brahma chicken that attacked Kraus “came here because it was aggressive before”.

Ms Guinan also said she saw a chicken with blood on its claws and suspected it was the same animal that attacked her father. She pointed out that the animal had previously attacked her daughter as well.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in