A teen Australian rugby league player was repeatedly attacked by a magpie and a clip of the incident has become a hit on TikTok
Jack Skinner was representing Parkes Spacemen against the quite aptly named 'Forbes Magpies' when he was forced to leave the field following the harassment from the bird, reports The Sun.
Skinner actually manages to dodge the bird a couple of times but it keeps coming back at him, swooping down from a above in a diving attack.
It seems he was called to leave the field by one of the coaches after the persistence from the airbourne enemy. However, even as he tried to leave the field, the bird follows him and tries to get him four times.
One of the coaches tries to hit the animal with what appears to be a boot. This seems to deter the bird as it flies above the stands. The person recording was in stitches as this all unfolded in front of them.
"Don't look at it mate. Cover your eyes" said one woman.
"The Forbes Magpie's attacking! Oh no. Oh poor bugger," exclaimed the cameraman as he failed to contain his laughter.
"Poor bugger, it'll get him on the way home!"
The video has picked up one million views in less than a week, and has quickly become one of the most-viewed rugby videos on TikTok. Viewers were cracking up in the comments section.
Speaking to Australian news outlet Sunrise, Skinner explained why he though the bird singled him out.
"I think it's because I was out on the wing all by myself. They don't really attack people when you're in groups."
Jack's Dad, Bob, went on to explain that magpie attacks actually happen every year, and more often than not children are attacked.
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