A wildlife show in Alice Springs, Australia, turned scary when an eagle attempted to pick up a boy and carry him off July 6.
NT News reported that a wedge-tailed eagle was in the show and flew down, latching onto the boy's face and head as the audience looked on.
The boy is believed to be 6-years,old.
“We were at the bird show in the afternoon, having a great time and looking forward to seeing the wedge-tailed eagle come out for the finale,” witness Keenan Lucas told NT News. "The bird then flew over the crowd and tried to grab on to a young boy’s head. He screamed, the mother was distraught, and the presenters wrapped up the show very quickly.
"It looked as if the bird tried to pick him up like a small animal and take off with him," Lucas said. Witness Christine O'Connell told the BBC she got the attack on camera.
"A fellow who was sitting closer said the little boy kept running his zipper up and down," O'Connell said.
The BBC reported that, according to O'Connell, the eagle was distracted by the zipper noise and tried to fly off with the boy.
"For some reason, the wedge tailed eagle did not like it and instead of flying over to the log he is meant to for a photo opportunity he flew straight at the young boy and attacked him," O'Connell wrote in her Instagram post of the incident.
The park confirmed the incident in a statement.
"On Wednesday, 6 July, an incident occurred at the Alice Springs Desert Park where an eagle made contact with an audience member," the park said in a statement. "A thorough investigation regarding the circumstances behind this incident is under way and the eagle will be removed from the show while this investigation is ongoing."
According to the park, the boy has superficial injuries.