‘Killer’ magpie pecks cyclist’s eye, forcing him to undergo miraculous surgery to restore his vision
A Melbourne cyclist who almost lost an eye after being hit by a magpie is encouraging other riders to wear sunglasses this season.
Sunbury man Christiaan Nyssen was cycling in Yarrawonga, near the Victoria-New South Wales border, in November 2021 when he was struck by a magpie.
He usually wears sunglasses on his walks but not on this occasion.
“I have been attacked countless times and I am not afraid of birds,” he said in a statement Monday.
“This bird turned around and went straight for the eye, did a somersault and hit me right in the eye again.” A neighbor said I was the fifth person to be attacked.
Sunbury man Christiaan Nyssen was cycling in Yarrawonga, near the Victoria-New South Wales border, in November 2021 when he was struck by a magpie.
Mr Nyssen underwent surgery to repair the retina and remove the entire lens from his eye.
Mr. Nyssen was left unable to see out of the eye due to trauma to the iris with pupil dilation.
After being advised to wait a few months, he sought a second opinion and underwent surgery to repair the retina and remove the entire lens at the Epworth Freemasons.
Mr Nyssen described it as a one in a million attack, but believes it could have been avoided with sunglasses.
“The magpie wouldn’t have had anything to aim for,” he said.
A Melbourne cyclist (pictured) who almost lost an eye after being hit by a magpie is encouraging other riders to wear sunglasses this season.
An elderly cyclist died from head injuries in September 2022 when he veered off an off-road path in Wollongong after being startled by a swooping magpie.
With the season in full swing, the rider was attacked by another magpie last week, suffering a minor ear injury.
The breeding season runs from around August to October, with magpies defending their nestling young six to eight weeks after hatching.
Other prevention tactics include changing your route, walking instead of running away, wearing sunglasses on the back of your head or a hat with a pair of eyes drawn on the back .
An elderly cyclist died from head injuries in September 2022 when he veered off an off-road path in Wollongong after being startled by a swooping magpie.
