Human Interest Kangaroo Kills Man, Blocks Paramedics from Saving His Life in Australia's First Fatality in Nearly 100 Years A kangaroo attacked and killed a 77-year-old man on Sunday By Charmaine Patterson Charmaine Patterson Charmaine Patterson is an Associate Editor at PEOPLE. She first began working at PEOPLE in 2021 as a Digital News Writer. Her work has previously appeared on xoNecole, The Lakelander, and Aspire TV. People Editorial Guidelines Published on September 12, 2022 08:29PM EDT Photo: Getty A kangaroo has killed a man in Australia after he tried to keep the animal as a pet. The 77-year-old Western Australian man had life-threatening injuries when emergency medical workers were called to help on Sunday, WA Today reports. When the ambulance arrived at the home, the kangaroo wouldn't let first responders reach him, according to the outlet. Once on the scene, police fatally shot the kangaroo after it proved to be a threat to paramedics. However, it was too late to save the man. "It is believed the man had been attacked by the kangaroo earlier in the day," a Western Australian Police Force spokesperson said according to the Australian Associated Press. Florida Man Has Hand Amputated After Alligator Attack — His Second Attack in 9 Years Authorities believe the man had the kangaroo as a pet, police added. The victim's incident will now be sent to the coroner's office to confirm his cause of death, AAP reports. RELATED VIDEO: Woman Mauled by Bear in Montana Walks Miles to Safety With Skull Fracture Officers also confirmed with WA Today that one of the victim's relatives is the individual who called the police and paramedics from St. John WA responded. "The kangaroo was posing an ongoing threat to emergency responders and the attending officers were required to euthanize the kangaroo by firearm," the police spokesman told WA Today. Hiker Who Went to Find Water for His Girlfriend Found Dead Near California Trail The Western Australia Police Force did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Neighbors told Australia's ABC News that the elderly man lived by himself. Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. It's been nearly 100 years since a kangaroo fatally attacked a human. The last known attack in Australia was in New South Wales in 1936, ABC News reports.