Man out for morning jog attacked by coyote

ROSWELL, Ga. — A Roswell man is recovering after being attacked by a coyote.

The incident happened Monday morning on Lake Charles Drive in Roswell.

Bill Goff told Channel 2’s Justin Wilfon that he was out for a run when the animal attacked.

"I looked down and grabbed him by the neck and pushed down. Trying to get him off the leg. And then when I got him pinned down I realized it wasn't a dog. It was a coyote," Goff said.

Wilfon obtained pictures taken by emergency personnel after the attack. The coyote is clearly visible.

"I've been jogging for five years, never imagined that I would be taken down by an animal, least of all a coyote," Goff said. "He was growling when he was biting on my leg."

A bandage remains on Goff's leg where the coyote bit him.

While a neighbor called 911, Goff pinned the animal to the ground for 20 minutes until help arrived.

"I had him pretty well dazed. I was choking him pretty tightly. I didn't want to let go and have him bite me again," Goff told Wilfon.

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After Roswell police and animal control put down the animal, tests revealed it had rabies.

"I didn't think rabies was a good thing but I didn't realize that once the symptoms start it's pretty much 100 percent lethal," Goff said.

Goff told Wilfon that he's halfway through a series of shots that will keep him in good health.

"It's not the kind of lotto that you want to win," Goff told Wilfon.

Goff said Roswell police and animal control both told him that coyote attacks are extremely rare in the area.

Cox Media Group