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A wildlife carer was severely injured after she and her family were attacked by a vicious kangaroo in Australia.

Linda Smith, 64, suffered a collapsed lung, broken ribs, cuts and other injuries when the 6ft grey attacked her at the family’s property in Queensland.

Mrs Smith and her husband, Jim, regularly feed kangaroos affected by an ongoing drought.

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But on Saturday night the "huge" animal suddenly turned on Mr Smith, who is also in his 60s.

She, her husband and the couple's son were able to fight back with a broom and shovel.

Mrs Smith, who has been caring for animals for 15 years, told the Brisbane Times: “Jim was on the ground and the kangaroo just kept at him.

“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.

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

© 2018 Raymond Boyd ROYAL OAK, MI - MAY 26: Red Kangaroo lounging around at the Detroit Zoo in Royal Oak, Michigan on May 26, 2018. (Photo By Raymond Boyd/Getty Images)

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

Her husband suffered multiple lacerations while her son, 40, had minor injuries after the attack in the town of Millmerran.

The kangaroo had hopped away by the time emergency services arrived.

However Mrs Smith said she didn't blame it for the attack, which she described as an "act of nature".

"I don't want this kangaroo to be hunted down and killed, I love animals," she said.