http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,8041889%255E3102,00.html

Man felt a real turkey

02dec03

A MAN was found naked and buried up to his neck in a scrub turkey nest on the Gold Coast yesterday, sparking a bizarre rescue drama.

Initial reports suggested the man, 27, was attacked and buried by the turkey in the Burleigh Heads national park.

"We don't know the circumstances but we're guessing he was robbing the nest of eggs and the turkey went ballistic, scratching and kicking him and burying him up to his neck," an ambulance spokesman said.

But a police spokeswoman said there was no evidence the man had been attacked and buried by the turkey.

She said it appeared as if the man, who was reported missing yesterday morning, may have climbed into the turkey nest and buried himself.

Burleigh Heads fire station officer Mark Bennetts, one of 10 firemen called in to help in the rescue, said the man was found 'stark naked' and covered in dirt and debris in the turkey nest.

"I thought I'd seen everything until today," he said.

Firemen and paramedics dug the man out of the nest. He was taken to the Gold Coast Hospital where he was in a stable condition late yesterday.