Emu Escapes, Defeats Captor, Leaves Would-Be Rescuer Flat on His Back

An escaped emu in England proved that catching a large flightless bird is much easier in theory than in practice.

The emu, nicknamed “Side Neck” because of the distinctive way its head moves while running, slipped through an open gate at a farm where it helps keep foxes away from ducks and chickens. Once loose, the bird began wandering near a roadway, creating a challenge for anyone brave enough to try bringing it home.

One determined man decided to take matters into his own hands and tackled the bird in the middle of the road while a passerby recorded the encounter. What followed was less of a rescue and more of a wrestling match.

For roughly 20 seconds, the emu and the man battled for control. At one point during the struggle, the man’s pants reportedly began sliding down while he attempted to keep hold of the surprisingly powerful bird. Witnesses could hear him shouting, “Emu down! Emu down!” as feathers flew.

The emu, however, had other plans.

After breaking free, Side Neck knocked the would-be captor to the ground and took off, leaving behind scattered feathers and a bruised ego. In an ironic twist, the runaway bird then headed back toward the very farm it had escaped from in the first place.

No serious injuries were reported, but the incident produced a memorable reminder that even when humans think they are in charge, nature occasionally has a different opinion. In this case, the emu won convincingly, earning both freedom and bragging rights before eventually making its way home.