A Queensland wildlife carer has severe injuries including a collapsed lung after she was attacked by a kangaroo.

Experienced wildlife carer Linda Smith, 64, had a collapsed lung, broken ribs, cuts and other injuries after a 183cm kangaroo attacked after she stepped in to stop it hurting her husband near Millmerran on Saturday night.

“I went outside to try and help him and took a broom and a piece of bread but he knocked the broom out of my hand then attacked me,” Smith said.

The woman’s husband, Jim was feeding kangaroos and wallabies when the animal started to attack him.

“I got him off Jim and Jim got up and I managed to grab a piece of wood to defend myself with that,” she said.

“Then my son came out to try and help me and hit him over the head with a shovel.”

The woman, who has cared for wildlife more the past 15 years, was due to undergo surgery on Sunday afternoon.

Despite the severity of the injuries Smith said she understood what happened was an “act of nature” and didn’t want to see the animal hurt.

“I am always careful, especially of the males. It’s breeding time so they can be more aggressive. I don’t want this kangaroo to be hunted down and killed; I love animals,” she said.

Smith remains in a stable condition at Toowoomba hospital.

