Runaway donkey Freddy attacks motorhomers in suspected bid to protect his love interest

Did love make this runaway German donkey attack three people? Love can make people do strange things, but it seems one runaway donkey in Germany may have taken matters to another level.

Freddy the donkey found himself at the centre of a bizarre roadside drama on Friday, August 21, after escaping with a female companion and then apparently turning on three people who tried to help.

Police in Cuxhaven, northern Germany, said Freddy and the mare were spotted wandering near a roundabout in Holssel, part of Geestland in Lower Saxony. What began as an attempt to get the animals safely off the road soon became considerably more dramatic.

Freddy storms into motorhome

A 58-year-old man and 59-year-old woman stopped in their motorhome after spotting the loose animals and tried to restrain Freddy. Rather than accepting the help, the donkey reportedly became aggressive and climbed inside the motorhome. Once inside, Freddy began kicking and biting, leaving both occupants with minor injuries.

A 33-year-old woman had also stopped to help and became involved in the attempt to restrain the animal. She was reportedly bitten, knocked to the ground and kicked before being taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Freddy’s owner eventually arrived and managed to bring the unruly donkey under control.

Was Freddy protecting his ‘girlfriend’?

Police are still unable to explain exactly why Freddy reacted so violently, but there could be a surprisingly romantic reason behind his behaviour. German broadcaster Tagesschau reported that police have considered whether Freddy was trying to protect the mare that had escaped with him.

Nobody is suggesting that Freddy was consciously playing the role of a jealous boyfriend, of course. The idea remains a theory rather than an established explanation for the attack. Even so, it gives the strange incident a rather different twist.

Freddy was not wandering alone when motorists came to his aid. He had escaped with a female companion, and his apparent determination to resist being separated from her could have played a part in what happened. Local veterinary authorities were informed following the incident, while Freddy was eventually returned safely to his enclosure.

A donkey with a temper

Photographs taken after the drama show Freddy back behind the safety of his enclosure, looking considerably more innocent than the animal that had just invaded a motorhome.

Cuxhaven police said the reason for his aggressive reaction remains unclear. Whether Freddy was protecting his mate, frightened by the situation or simply having a very bad morning is something only the donkey himself might know.

For the three people who stopped to help, however, the lesson may be rather simpler: spotting a loose donkey by a German roundabout does not necessarily mean you should expect a quiet animal rescue. Sometimes, apparently, you can get caught in the middle of a very complicated love story.