AN 88-year-old man was in intensive care after his neighbour's goat attacked him - for an hour.

Vestal Davis, of Colbert, a small city in northern Georgia, called the emergency services after the attack.

"Mr Davis stated that he went outside to his shop and looked up, and a goat charged him, knocking him to the ground," according to the police report.

"He stated that every time he moved to get up, the goat would attack him again."

Mr Davis’ 69-year-old neighbour who owns the goat told the police that the animal escaped from its pen, but he did not know about the attack.

Sheriff Kip Thomas said that police planned to charge the goat's owner with allowing livestock to roam free.

"I'm just hoping that Mr Davis gets all right. I was stunned when I heard it," Colbert Mayor Chris Peck said.

"I know the man that owned the goat and he wouldn't hurt anybody. It think it's an unfortunate accident that happened."