A QUEENSLAND man has survived a terrifying attack by an eastern grey kangaroo, delivering a knockout punch to the rogue animal's face.

The cranky female stalked Beaudesert livestock agent Carl Young last week while he was out for a run.

Mr Young, 24, was jogging in a paddock near Everdell Park at Gleneagle when the roo squared up against him and landed a swift kick to his stomach.

"I was running along when I spotted a buck and a doe with her joey on the other side of the fence," he said.

"I was about 30 yards from the mob ... when the doe started to hop toward me.

"She looked friendly enough so I didn't give it much thought but then she hopped in my path and came at me, growling and hissing.

"She started clawing at me so I whacked her a couple of times to get her away."

Mr Young said the eastern grey "stood about a foot shorter" than his 180cm.

When the cranky roo rocked back on to her tail, ready to strike with her powerful hind legs, he grabbed her by her front paws and tried to push her away, but she kicked out. The first kick connected with his stomach.

The second missed, with the roo's claw catching on his singlet. Mr Young said he threw the big grey to the ground but she managed to get back up for round two.

"She was lashing out at me so I punched her between the nose and eyes and ran to a nearby house," he said.

"I have lived in the bush most of my life and never had an encounter like that.

"Yes, we went fisticuffs but I certainly did not start the fight."

Mr Young escaped with just a few scratches on his back and shoulders but fears a child may not be so lucky.

Gleneagle State School backs on to the park and walkers regularly use the reserve.

"I have seen a kangaroo tear apart a dog," he said. "I know what they are capable of.

"When it put its feet on me, I thought I was dead meat."

The eastern grey kangaroo is one of the largest marsupials in Australia. It can grow to 1.3m and weigh up to 70kg.

A rogue female roo had to be shot with a tranquilliser and relocated after terrorising golfers at a private course at Sanctuary Cove in September last year.

Earlier that same year, a 94-year-old Charleville woman was attacked by a red kangaroo and a family at Kooralbyn, southwest of Beaudesert, told of being terrorised by a rampaging wallaby nicknamed "Wacker".

RSPCA senior wildlife officer Leonie Rickard said the female roo was most likely feeling territorial or threatened due to the joey in her pouch.

samantha.healy@news.com.au