Tyson The Terrifying Swan

 

Halt! Who rows there? Meet Tyson the terrifying swan that attacks boaters if they dare venture on his stretch of canal By Katherine Faulkner PUBLISHED: 10:52 GMT, 28 March 2012 | UPDATED: 00:26 GMT, 29 March 2012 With the sun shining and the water calm, it seemed like the perfect day for messing about in his boat. But this hapless kayaker didn’t bank on Tyson â€" an enormous swan which stalks this pretty waterway. The bird, standing 4ft tall with an 8ft wingspan, batters anyone who dares to venture near his nest. Locals say he has attacked at least three people in the past month. His antics have meant that a two-mile stretch of the popular Grand Union Canal in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire, is now a ‘no-go area’ for children and families. Joe Davies feels the wrath of Tyson the swan on the Grand Union Canal in Bugbrooke, Northamptonshire Mr Davies, a chef at a nearby pub, admitted he was 'bricking it' when Tyson attacked Kayakers and canoeists have been warned not to travel on this stretch of water while the swan is rearing his young ... but it was too late for Joe, as he capsized, thanks to the angry bird The swan was caught on camera swooping on kayaker Joe Davies while he was paddling on the canal on Tuesday afternoon. The 20-year-old is seen capsizing after Tyson goes into attack mode. Mr Davies said the incident had been ‘terrifying’. ‘I’d heard the rumours about Tyson, but I had never seen him before,’ he added. ‘He went for me as soon as I got in the water. ‘I eventually capsized and he went for me as I was falling in, which made me panic. I’ve been kayaking on this stretch for five years and I’m a confident boat user, but I was terrified.’ Territorial Tyson patrols a two-mile stretch of the Grand Union Canal - which has now been declared off limits to boat users