Emergency responders were dispatched to a property in Romsey, approximately 60 kilometers north of Melbourne in the Macedon Ranges, around 6 a.m. after receiving alerts about an “animal-related incident.”

Brad Fishlock, aged 51, intervened to protect one of his baby alpacas from a fox’s attack.

The fox turned its aggression toward Mr. Fishlock, biting into the inner part of his thigh.

Paramedics specializing in advanced life support attended to his lower body injuries, subsequently transporting him to Northern Hospital, where he was reported to be in stable condition.

Later in the afternoon, he underwent emergency surgery to address a deep wound on his leg.

Paramedics who attended the scene at the time that he was lucky not to have severed an artery.

Exotic wildlife veterinarian Dr Nicole Su said attacks on humans by foxes were “really out of the ordinary”.

“Unfortunately we are seeing [foxes] encroaching onto more and more urban areas and we’re having more sightings as well, and what we are seeing is they are getting bolder,” she said.

“This is the first time I’ve heard of such a bad attack on a person, but I have heard of chickens snatched out of their coops, rabbits snatched out of their enclosures.”

She warned anyone who encounters aggressive behaviour from the animals to report it to their local council.

“We are really careful to warn pet owners that this is a really big risk, even if you’re living in the inner city of Melbourne, we still do hear it happening with these guys,” she said.

“If they are, let’s say, coming into your backyard, or if you’ve got pets that you’re worried about, lights and noises, those are gonna be the best things to scare them away.”

9News met the Fishlock family in 2006 when Tyler Fishlock lost his sight in both of his eyes to cancer before his fourth birthday.

Tyler went on to face another two cancer battles.