UPDATE: RINGWOOD students are being offered counselling after a wild deer injured two children on school grounds earlier today.

Norwood Secondary College and Mullum Primary School were thrown into chaos when the large deer ran through the campuses as more than 100 students were playing.

Mullum Primary principal Carolyn MacAulay said two grade 4 students were assessed by paramedics after being knocked over by the deer.

They have since been sent home.

“It was definitely scary at the time but everyone is fairly calm now,” she said.

“You definitely don’t have a policy for this so we’re really lucky and really fortunate the situation wasn’t more serious.”

Norwood principal Andrew Sloane said the animal was euthanized on the college grounds in front of students.

“(These students) have been offered ongoing support,” he said.



The deer was first seen in a backyard at Oban Rd before it escaped and made its way up Mullum Mullum Rd to Norwood Secondary College and Mullum Primary School.

Earlier, Ringwood acting Sergeant Luke McDonald said police, paramedics and a private animal control company were called to the scene this morning.

He said the contractor had to shoot the animal due to public risk.

“In a case where a large animal is on the loose in a heavily populated area, it becomes a serious (hazard),” Sergeant McDonald said.

“It was intended to use a tranquilliser.”

He said while it was not common to see deer in suburban areas, it occurred occasionally during this time of year.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said two primary school-aged students were assessed at the scene.

It is unclear where the deer came from.