Frederick Stailey is recovering in King Edward VII Memorial Hospital after suffering broken ribs, broken shoulder blade and a bruised lung in the terrifying incident.

His wife Shirley told of the horrifying attack in which the bull turned on her husband, goring him -- but then amazingly saving his life by its own actions.

And the saga concluded yesterday when a Police marksman shot the bull dead in its field on Radnor Road, Hamilton Parish.

Mr. Stailey, 58, was in a field alone with the three-year-old bull when the incident happened last Wednesday.

He had entered the small field to check the fence, when the bull rammed him, throwing him to the ground -- and its continued aggression then propelled him to safety.

"The bull got down at the fence and just went for him. It pushed him under the fence, that was what saved his life,'' Mrs. Stailey told The Royal Gazette .

Police shoot `unstable' bull "He was under the electric fence -- that was how close he came. We were all home, but we didn't see it happen. He is lucky to be alive.'' Mr. Stailey was taken to hospital and spent four days in the Intensive Care Unit. He is now in a satisfactory condition on a general ward and is expected to return home later this week.

Yesterday, his family decided to put the bull to sleep, after it became unstable and was considered a danger to the public.

A Police spokesman said a vet was called to tranquilise and put the bull to sleep, but had to abandon the attempt when it became extremely aggressive.

"It is doubted that an appropriate amount of drug would have taken effect on the bull,'' said the spokesman.

Firearms officer P.c. Stuart Kirkpatrick killed the bull with a single shot to the head from a 12-gauge shotgun. "This was a highly unusual incident in which the most drastic measure was required to ensure public safety,'' said the spokesman.