Seagulls Peck to Death Russian Swimmer

Michael Nikonov came to the village Verkhovie from the Russian city of Petrozavodsk (Russian republic of Korelia) to visit friends. The place is known for nature’s splendor — old Russian houses are awash in overgrown vegitation and River Shuya flows nearby harboring several small islands covered with seagulls’ nests. As the day was sweltering hot, Nikonov decided to cool down in the river. It is unknown to those around why he decided to swim to the small island, anxiously guarded by seagulls. Inhabitants try not to approach this small seagulls’ fortress as it is well known that when people come too close, the birds become territorial and may even peck at approaching intruders. When the seagulls became aware of Nikonov approaching the island they became alarmed. The birds soared above unlucky swimmer, swooped down on him, and with loud cries dove into the water around him. Bystanders who gathered on the bank of the river could only watch helplessly as Nikonov struggled while they called police and emergency services. Rescuers arrived immediately but it was already too late — the alarmed seagulls did not let impulsive swimmer reach their nests. They continued to attack him until he had disappeared under the water. When rescuers fished out Nikonov, he was already dead. “We think the swimmer was seriously frightened by the birds’ attack, he tried to fight tooth and nail. He had probably lost his bearings, dove into the water to hide from the seagulls, but was not able to come to the surface”, the head of the local emergency service told Trud newspaper correspondent. Rescuers claim Nikonov was sober when the incident occured.