An elderly Australian bicyclist died in a freak accident when he swerved to avoid a bird swooping down into his path, according to a new report.

The 76-year-old cyclist veered off a path to avoid a magpie and crashed into a fence south of Wollongong, New South Wales, the BBC reported.

Paramedics tried to save him, but he died of severe head injuries at a local hospital, according to the report.

Swooping magpies are common in Australia’s spring season and have caused injuries to cyclists and pedestrians in the past — but deaths are rare, according to the report.

Australian magpies, which are different from their European counterparts, are known to become aggressive and attack people in their path.

Earlier this month, rangers in Sydney gunned down a notorious magpie known for intimidating locals, the BBC reported at the time.

One resident told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he even suffered a heart attack as the bird assailed him in a frenzy last year.

Magpies are protected by law in Australia, but local authorities can independently decide how to deal with them.