Man attacked by 6ft ostrich-type birds in Thelwall

The birds, believed to be rheas, were seen roaming the area by pedestrians recently.

The man, Dermot Smith, said he was attacked by the birds as he passed Cinder Lane, in Thelwall.

The two rheas were spotted by passers-by recently (Image: Newsquest)

Taking to social media to warn others of the attack, Dermot said that although he was able to fight off the large birds, children would not fare so well.

He even went as far as to claim that a child could have been blinded by the birds.

When contacted, a Cheshire Constabulary spokesperson explained that work is ongoing to identify the large avians, as well as contact the owner.

The spokesperson said: "At 9.33am on June 6 police were made aware of two rheas attacking a cyclist in Grappenhall and Thelwall.

"A man was cycling along the stone track on Cinder Lane between Weast Lane and Knutsford Road when he was attacked by the two 6ft Ostrich type birds.

"The owner will be advised once they have been identified."

Dermot posted the following video that he managed to capture that shows part of the attack.

Rheas are also known as South American ostriches; according to ScienceDirect, rheas are not typically aggressive birds, either among themselves or with other species.

Despite this, Dermot added: "I am fine, but someone smaller and without a bike to cycle away, it would be different. 

"Even on my bike pedalling as fast as could they kept running with me, pecking my back as I went."