Gored farmer told wife he was 'OK'

Deer farmer Peter Foley told his wife he was "OK" after he managed to drive the 300m to 400m from a deer shed to his home after being gored by a young steer.


Anne Foley said her husband had not been able to tell her what happened after he arrived at their South Canterbury home around 5.30pm covered in mud "from head to toe".


"He tooted as he came across the yard and said he'd had a bump," she said.


She phoned an ambulance which took Mr Foley from his Studholme farm to Timaru Hospital where he is in an induced coma.


Mrs Foley said the hospital had told her he was stable and she believed he would pull through.


"If you knew Peter you would understand he's a survivor," she said. "If he got out of the shed and got home I am sure he was meant to live."


Deer were unpredictable animals and one had obviously been spooked but she did not know what had happened in the shed where Mr Foley was working with a handful of deer.


Stags, kept in bachelor groups during the mating season, characteristically display antagonistic behaviour, including fighting.


The animal had already killed two rival deer.

Mr Foley, a Waimate district councillor as well as a deer and sheep farmer, was attacked on Thursday afternoon.

According to Waimate mayor John Coles, Mr Foley managed to drive from the farm shed to his home to get help, despite four puncture wounds to his chest and abdomen.


It is understood there were six stags in the farm shed.

Mr Foley, who is in his late 60s, has been a councillor for the Deep Creek Ward for 10 years.

Mr Coles said he was very well known and respected in the area.

"He is quite a character and we are all hoping he recovers from his injuries," he said.

The stag was being looked after by neighbours, along with the rest of Mr Foley's stock.

A Timaru Hospital spokesperson last night said Mr Foley was in a "satisfactory" and "stable" condition.

Stags, kept in bachelor groups during the mating season, characteristically display antagonistic behaviour, including fighting.

Deer Industry New Zealand's South Canterbury and North Otago chairman Peter Aitken said that in a shed stags could get a bit panicked, stressed and flighty.

"Adult stags can be a bit stroppy in the roar, but most would have finished by mid-May."