Second Yellowstone tourist in three weeks seriously injured by bison

An Australian tourist has been seriously injured by an enraged bison at Yellowstone National Park in the US - the second such attack in three weeks.

The 62-year-old, who had stood five feet away to take pictures, was tossed into the air several times, and was airlifted to hospital with serious but not life-threatening injuries.

According to park rangers, the attack took place when people crowded the animal as it lay on grass near the famous Old Faithful geyser in Wyoming.

Yellowstone spokeswoman Amy Bartlett said: "The bison was already getting agitated."

When the bison charged, the tourist's fate was sealed. Bison can weigh as much as a small car and run three times faster than a person.

This is the second bison attack at the park in less than a month. Another bison in the same area gored a 16-year-old girl from Taiwan as she posed for a picture in May. Again, she sustained serious but not life-threatening injuries, and has since been discharged from hospital.

Bison are responsible for more injuries at the park than bears, and rangers recommend keeping at least 25 yards away from the animals.