58-Year-Old Johnston Hiker Fights Coyote With Bare Hands Despite Leg Wounds

Danger is inevitable and more often than not, it arrives unannounced. Thus, everybody needs to be well-equipped in survival training. Such training is even more necessary if someone is an adventure lover and often wanders off into the perilous serenity of nature. Today’s story narrates the tale of the arrival of a similar danger when a coyote attacked an unsuspecting hiker in Johnston. As the 58-year-old hiker was treading along the trail admiring the beauty of mother nature, the coyote is said to have pounced on him. However, the man had nerves of steel and did not panic in such a dire situation. 

What he did next was no less than a script for a Hollywood superhero movie. Driven by his instincts, the man proceeded to use his bare hands to kill the coyote, thus saving his own life. So how did the man pull off such a feat? Did he suffer any injury from the scuffle? Let’s take a deep dive into the story and learn everything about the story in detail below. 

58-year-old man embarks on a daring hiking scuffle

When the hiker, whose name has not been disclosed, was treading along the woods of Johnston, he had no idea of what he would encounter in a few moments. According to the reports, the coyote attacked the man in the vicinity of a wooded stretch of land close to Belfield Drive. Surprisingly enough, in a situation where most people would naturally become nervous, this man attacked the coyote back.

As per the official accounts released by the personnel at the Rhode Island DEM, the 58-year-old hiker displayed immense strength to pin the coyote to the ground. Next, he went on to strangle the neck of the animal with brute force until it suffocated and passed away. Soon after the news went out, officials from the RI Department of Environmental Management took back the dead body of the coyote with them for further testing. 

As far as the hiker was concerned, he suffered a significant injury to his leg and was undergoing medical treatment. Looking at the pattern of attack, officials doubted that the same coyote might have attacked another Scituate man on Thursday. This man, however, was badly injured as the animal bit him several times before refraining. 

Speaking about whether the man did the right thing or not, police officials along with the residents were in full support of the hiker’s actions. 

Residents and officials laud the efforts of the hiker 

Although killing a wild animal is not something that many would prefer, taking extreme measures to save one’s life is what makes this case unique. While reflecting on the matter, Mike Healy, the DEM Chief of Public Affairs stated, “it would be great news that this rabid coyote was dead. But we need to confirm that by going through this process of checking out the bite marks.”

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Healy further advised hikers to make themselves ‘big and loud’ if they came face to face with a coyote. Echoing similar sentiments, Dennis Northup, a local from Johnston extended his support to the hiker. Northup said, “It’s you or him.” The carcass examination, which is being tested for rabies, is reportedly due by the coming week.

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