A man who was treated in hospital after being attacked by a hawk which terrorised a Home Counties village said he is “delighted” it has been caught.
Jim Hewitt, 75, from Flamstead, Hertfordshire, vowed he “won’t get beaten by a poxy bird” after the bird swooped on him as he went to get milk and a newspaper on Wednesday.
The next day the Harris’s hawk was captured by village resident Steve Harris who said he caught the bird in a cage in his garden.
Villagers have suffered months of attacks by the bird of prey with the severity and number reportedly on the rise.
Mr Harris told Channel 5 News: “It basically just chased me into the garden in the heat. It’s just working its way down towards me.
“Luckily, I had a cage that we’ve been using to try and toss it in… I just had this cage open up and kind of was blocking it getting to me and then, when it got close enough, I just basically threw this cage onto it.”
EXCLUSIVE: CCTV obtained by 5 News has shown the moment a hawk that has terrorised a Hertfordshire village was finally caught.
— Channel 5 News (@5_News) April 3, 2025
For weeks the Harris's hawk has been attacking people in Flamstead. It was captured in a man's back garden earlier today.
Pictures from Steve Harris.… pic.twitter.com/AlFVh1vCUH
Mr Hewitt, who was left soaked in blood after the attack, told the PA news agency he was relieved the situation had not escalated.
He joked: “I’m delighted we are not going to be invaded.
“I had to be careful and cautious – the sensible thing was to drive to the shop, but I won’t get beaten by a poxy bird.
“I’m relieved that it’s been caught and not had to be put to death or shot.
“And I’m even more relieved that a child isn’t going to get hurt.
“It was hanging around by the school and my biggest fear was that someone would walk out and get set upon.”
