Bird lover Michael Buckland, who tried to save the life of an injured gannet, was left blinded when it pecked his eye out.

Michael Buckland
Blinded: Michael Buckland lost his sight in his right eye when he tried to save an injured bird in South Wales (Picture: WNS)

Bucklandâs right eyeball was left hanging from its socket after being punctured three times. His left eyelid was sliced in two during the attack.

The welder was enjoying a walk on a beach with his girlfriend when they spotted the bird unable to fly.

But as he picked it up, a dog being walked in the distance suddenly rushed towards it and the gannet began pecking at Mr Bucklandâs face in fright.

The 38-year-old said: âI felt there was a big hole. My eye was hanging out and I had to put it back in on the beach.

âI had a flap of skin on the top of my nose and a big gash. It felt like somebodyâs sticking a pin through the back of your eye and trying to prise it out.â

Attack: Gannets have 15cm beaks
Attack: Gannets have 15cm beaks (Picture: WNS)

It was only for a timely blink that Mr Bucklandâs left eyeball was not hit by the birdâs 15cm (6in) beak.


The holidaymakers had to walk for 45 minutes before reaching help at their caravan site in Gower, South Wales.

Mr Buckland, of Cardiff, was taken to Swanseaâs Singleton Hospital where doctors threaded 11 stitches in his right eyeball but could not save it.

He added: âI can see bright colours but thatâs it. If I go outside now, it feels like a needle is going through it.â

Since the attack, which happened three weeks ago, the couple returned to the beach â only to find the same bird lying dead in the sand.

The RSPB insisted it is âan extremely rare, one-off eventâ.