An animal-loving young woman was fatally attacked by a trio of tiger sharks as she snorkelled with pigs, while her screaming parents watched in horror.

US student mauled by tiger sharks in the Bahamas

An elderly woman from South Australia has died after being pecked at by her “aggressive” rooster while collecting eggs from the chicken coop in her garden.

The rooster reportedly punctured a varicose vein with its beak, causing it to bleed profusely.

Further examination found the victim had suffered numerous other injuries, but the main cause of death was the bleeding that couldn’t be stopped, The Advertiser reported.

The identity of the lady has been suppressed to avoid further trauma to her family.

The incident has prompted a public warning of the hidden dangers of seemingly harmless animals, especially for elderly people.

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Adelaide University forensics expert Professor Roger Byard, who has been studying the hidden dangers from what are considered “harmless” animals, has examined the case to help prevent similar deaths occurring in the future.

“I’m trying to get elderly people who have varicose veins treated with a simple operation because they are especially vulnerable to being broken,” he told The Advertiser.

Varicose veins are enlarged veins the commonly protrude from the skins surface.

“(This case) made us realise how vulnerable the elderly are, (varicose veins) are very easy to damage.”

Professor Byard said a different SA woman recently died overseas in similar circumstances when a cat scratched her leg.

“Many of the examples we have found of animals causing death are a warning for elderly people,” he told the publication.

“For example cats are a very common tripping hazard for the elderly around the house that they may never think of. Cats like to rub against ankles and legs and commonly lead to tripping injuries.”

But Professor Byard also warns that injuries to their varicose veins caused by animals aren’t the only thing people need to look out for.

“We have done studies that show people have just been around their homes and bled to death by knocking their leg and vein on something.”

The incident comes after a breeder was fatally attacked by a cassowary on a Florida farm earlier this year.

The cassowary attacked and killed its 75-year-old owner after the man fell over on his property in April.

The bird reportedly used its long claws to attack its victim.