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© CEN / australscopeTourist Lu Chen is attacked by two geese.
A hapless tourist nearly drowned in a vicious attack by two geese when he strayed too close to their river nest in southern China.

Stunned Lu Chen had been paddling in the stream to cool down in Gaowen Village in China's Guizhou province, when the two large birds flew at him.

"I didn't know what was happening at first. There was a tremendous hissing and then they came straight at me," he said later.

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Lu Chen strayed too close to their nest.

"I tried to scare them off, but they just kept coming. They managed to knock me down in the river and I am sure they were trying to drown me. I just couldn't get them away.

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He had been paddling in the stream to cool down in Gaowen Village.
"They were pecking my legs, my hands, anything they could get their bills on. They're big, powerful birds and it hurt. I really began to panic."

Laughing locals in the village - who are used to the birds' aggressive behaviour - helped to pull struggling Lu to safety.

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“There was a tremendous hissing and then they came straight at me," he said.
One local said: "They won't allow anyone to walk in their stream. They are very territorial. This is where they raise their chicks, where they feed, and they do not tolerate intruders of any kind in their home.

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They pecked his legs and hands
"Anyone who lives here knows that and we never let our children play there. We should put up a sign to warn off tourists, but it's quite fun to watch."

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Locals know the birds are dangerous.