Report from Chris Smith
See Photo album for comments of the photographs
Cat attacks ABC Hunter
By Brian Goodwin in British Alien Big Cats
While the Bodmin Beast was slaying them (not quite literally) in Cornwall, another big cat in Worcestershire was definitely having a go at really slaying some would be ABC investigators. This story came to light on 21 st April 1994, again in The Sun. The paper gave details of how a large black cat had attacked and wounded a female ABC investigator. The attack, it transpired, actually took place the previous December (1993) at Inkberrow, Worcestershire.
Animal expert and Veterinary Lecturer Sally Dyke (32) and her husband Nick (35) had been investigating the haunts of a large feline spotted by several witnesses on no less than 38 occasions over four years within a 30 mile radius of Inkberrow. The Dykes, from John Street, Stourbridge had spent some time laying dead chickens as bait at various locations around Inkberrow in the hope of tracking the animal down.
One gloomy December evening they went to check the bait they had laid at St Peters graveyard. The bait had worked...too well. All of a sudden, a huge black cat, estimated by the Dykes to be the size of a Great Dane erupted out of the undergrowth and careered into Nick, sending him sprawling. It seemed that Nick had accident trodden on the cat as it lay crouched in the undergrowth. The cat bounded towards Sally, who stood frozen with fear and swiped at her twice before bounding off. The cat's claws ripped through Sally's thick waxed jacket and left deep scratches in her skin, the scars of which were still visible four months later when photographed by The Sun. Thankfully, Sally was otherwise unharmed, although she said that her scars were still tender at that time and she feared that she would be scarred for life.
© British Alien Big Cats
Black cat attacks hunters
From the Wolverhampton Express and Star, 1st February 1994
This paper reported that a black cat the size of a Great Dane sized had attacked cat hunter Nick Dyke and an unnamed companion in a lonely churchyard at Inkberrow, Hereford and Worcester. Inspired by reports of a leopard-like cat in the area, Mr Dyke and his companion were trying to bait the animal with dead chickens when it leapt from under their feet into a nearby tree. According to Mr. Dyke, the cat hit his head and shoulders, sending him flying backwards, then reared up and lashed out at his companion, gashing her rib cage before running away.
© Wolverhampton Express and Star, 1st February 1994
Huge black cat attacks woman
From '3D', ITV, 21 st April 1994
Midlands - Sally Dyke stated on '3D', that she had been attacked by a huge black cat in a lonely churchyard at Inkberrow, Worcester. Sally and her husband baited a path with dead chickens in December 1993. Returning to check the bait Nick Dyke stumbled onto the cat which was feeding in long grass. They say he animal lashed out at Sally, ripping through her waxed jacket and scarring her chest. They did not report the incident at the time - Sally a vetinary lecturer, cleaned the wound herself and took antibiotics to prevent infection.
© 3D, ITV: 21st April, 1994
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