Australian runner attacked by kangaroo

AUSTRALIA -- An Australian runner says she's lucky to be alive after she was attacked by a 6'5 tall kangaroo.

The 54-year-old woman says she was running on a popular trail, when the animal jumped on her without any warning.

"It really hit me and knocked me down into the grass and was jumping on me. And I was screaming, my natural reaction was to scream," said Debbie Urquhart.

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The kangaroo backed off after the woman stopped screaming, and played dead.

Once the animal was gone, the woman ran nearly a quarter of a mile home for help.

She needed 45 stitches in her arms, neck, shoulder and back, but is expected to be OK.