Wild deer interrupted a triathlete’s race on Sunday when it knocked him off his bike during the annual Dublin City Triathlon in Ireland.
Shane O’Reilly, 30, was competing in the Olympic-distance race when three deer approached the cycling track.
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Photographer Erik Scraggs said the collision was so fast it was hard to tell what had happened.
“I thought [the deer] might cross and cause a bit of havoc but I never envisaged they thought would try and leap over the cyclists,” said Scraggs in an email.
O’Reilly landed on his head but credits his helmet for preventing any serious damage.
“The helmet definitely saved me,” he told RTE. “Apart from that, my shoulder was a bit sore and I had a headache.”
The race took place in Phoenix Park, home to around 500 fallow deer who have lived in the conservation area since the 17th century.
Despite the crash, O’Reilly managed to complete the race in two hours and 25 minutes, finishing sixth in his age group.
“All’s well that ends well, I suppose,” said O’Reilly. “The accident wasn’t fun, but it will be a great story to be able to look back on in 30 or 40 years and say that happened to me.”
“And at least I know there will be no wild animals in Rotterdam.”
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