Well after further research it seems my old man wasn't talking shite after all!!!
Report with real examples in The Guardian that swans really will ' fuck you up' if you take them on!!
www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,5753,-24008,00.html
BIRDS AND THE BEES
As a kid I was told to keep away from swans as they can break your leg with their wing. Has this ever been recorded anywhere as actually happening?
Carl Tyler, Boston USA
My great uncle had his arm broken by a swan while canoeing on the canal near Gorton Manchester
Tim Haughton, Upholland, UK
From an incident two years ago i can vouch swans are quite capable of this. My freind and i were walking back to our residences in stirling when another student walking by the lake must have got too close to a nest by accident. The resulting attack by the mother swan was serious enough for hospital treatment, and a leg cast. whether the injury was caused by the wing or by the beak I couldnt tell you but the swan was pretty ferocious. I give them a wide berth now.
Allan Steele, Ayr, Scotland
I've never heard of anyone's leg being broken by a swan, but my grandmother had her arm broken by one. She was a keen ornithologist and got too close to a pen on her nest, hence the attack and resulting injury. I don't know how old she was when the attack took place or if she suffered from brittle bones but it happened before I was born and she was in her late 50s when I came along.
Alistair Morris, Billericay, UK
I'm not sure, but I was bitten by a swan when I was 10 and it nearly broke my foot. I was wearing sandals, so all I suffered was shock and some bruising and bleeding. I have read that a swan can kill a man by flapping its wings (the wingspan can be longer than an average human's height, and they do have powerful muscles). I would advise warning children to keep away from swans and large geese, as they are quite strong (and vicious!). Many people like to feed them like they feed ducks, and this can lead to injury. There may be records of this happening, because there are so many swans in parks where kids feed whatever animal is around with a bag of stale bread. They are quite beautiful creatures, though!
Thomas Effing, Agness, USA
We had a family friend who sometimes amused himself (possibly when in tedious company) by raising the subject of swans, as he said he could guarantee that within 5 minutes someone would state that swans could break your leg (or arm). Apparently every time swans were mentioned this 'fact' would be rolled out, but no-one could ever verify it was actually true or that it had happened to anyone they knew. Not much help this, is it, but you could try the same trick if you're at a boring dinner party.
Eleanor, London UK
Eleanor, I usually forestall this conversation with: 'Did you know, just one blow from a man's can break a swan's wing?'
Peter Brooke, Kinmuck, Scotland
I work with a guy whose college classmates were brutally assaulted by swans multiple times per year. They had to build snow forts to keep the swans at bay. They would break multiple students arms and legs per year. Be careful!
Dizzle, Detroit USA
I actually saw two swans attack a man they set about him in a savage way before dragging him into the lake near by he was managed too escape but lost a leg during the fight
Nathan, London, UK
this is a myth made up by exuberant storytellers,pull the other one....
david, Edinburgh
I was walking along the canal and encountered a 'family' of Swans. Although they looked quite defensive and was staring me out, they did not even attempt to break my leg.
Steve N, Birmingham Uk
My friend went to the park with a bag of bread and a golf club and set about antagonising the swans. She had her arm broken and was so traumatised that she off work for months.
Marnie, Glasgow UK
They had black swans walking around at our local zoo. In front of the area where the swans were (with other ducks), there was a wooden bench. We placed our nine-month-old daughter down on the bench so we could take a few photos with the swan in the background. The swans crept closer and closer to my daughter. We thought nothing of it, until the one got VERY close and my husband snatched her up JUST AS the evil swan jutted at her with a powerful peck that startled and scared her. It was very scary at how aggressive the swan was. He could have taken off her toe or really hurt her.
Laura, Richmond USA
Swans, geese and other large waterfowl are all capable of breaking every bone in your body and also causing you to be burned beyond recognition. They can do this to hundreds of people at once. All they need to do is clog up the jets of an aeroplane, causing it to crash.
Viktor D. Huliganov, Warsaw Poland
Yes! It is a known fact, a swan, and any other large bird or animal can do damage to a human and it is happening so much more often now because we do not respect nature as we once did. Animals are retaliating,we should stop bringing them so close to us. They really do not want to be bothered, and people should just leave them be!
Linda Trudeaux, New Orleans, USA
Me and my mates were walking home from a night out and were beaten up by a bunch of local swans hanging around the area. Multiple limbs were broken. Nasty little buggers.
Ian A, Birmingham United Kingdom
Yes, this is very true, I was walking through the local park listening to my music, minding my own business, then suddenly I was attacked by two evil swans! They grabbed me by my arms and took off, I was then took to there home where they tried feeding me to there young'uns. I have been scarred for life, lucky to be alive to tell the tale.
Andrew Medlicott, Birmingham, England
When walking around a local lake one evening, I accidentally stumbled upon a group of at least 8 ferocious sexy looking swans ... They set upon me and not only broke my leg but also used their beaks to tear my ass hole I still can't walk properly n I have shit at least 4 eggs a day since .... Also I am I'm not lying!!!
Carolinesw, Swansea Wales
I am in a fair bit of trouble with the wrong type of swans. Owe them some fat stacks for a deal that went wrong. They are giving me 24 hours before they will break my legs. If you don't hear from me again, blame the liffey swans.
Ger Hughes, The Bronx
I do t know which ones are true and which ones aren't haha!
Jodie, Bournemouth England.
Once got into a wing wrestling contest in the Norfolk Broads with a couple of cygnets. Guess what happened?
Phil, Nottingham UK
We have just got back having spent a night in casualty so don't appreciate the cruel jibes! We were feeding some ducks along with our little dog Teddy (he is pommoranian) at the waters edge at a beautiful lake. Whilst feeding the ducks I turned to my boyfriend to ask where Teddy was. I called out to him but there was no sign, we spent a good twenty minutes looking for him and we were starting to worry when all of a sudden he came out of nowhere with some signets. All of a sudden we heard a loud screeching noise and my boyfriend was savagely attacked by two large swans. I quickly grabbed Teddy in my arms and screamed for help. It all happened so quickly I couldn't believe what was happening - they literally started dragging him towards the water. Fortunately a passer-by saw the vicious attack and used his fishing umbrella to prise them off his legs. However my boyfriend suffered from severe bruising, three broken toes, fractured wrist, black eye, 2 broken ribs,we are also waiting for the vision in his right eye to come back as he hit his head during the fall, he also has a broken nose. I think generally it's ok to feed the ducks and swans etc., but you just need to be wary this time of year when they are with their young as they see us as a threat and are just trying to protect their young.
Jack Wilderness , Midlands United Kingdom
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