In a shocking incident at a wildlife reserve in South Africa, a giraffe brutally attacked the wife and son of a British scientist, leaving them fighting for their lives in a hospital.

35-year-old Dr Katy Williams and her son, three-year-old Finn, were waiting for husband and father Sam Williams about 150 yards from their home situated on the Blyde Wildlife Estate near Hoedspruit. Sam was due to return home from work and pick them up but, upon reaching the location, he saw his wife and son under a gigantic giraffe's attack. He quickly confronted the animal and was able to chase it off, saving the lives of both family members.

It is believed that the giraffe attacked the mother and son after considering them a threat to her two-month-old calf. 

The family was close to their home as they waited for the husband to return from his evening trail run in the hill around the nature reserve, reported Daily Mail.

Having said that, both Sam and Katy are scientists who have extensive post Ph.D. experience in dealing with animals. Both work on the game reserve.

On Monday, at around 6 pm, the Hoedspruit Medical Rescue team responded to the scene moments after UK-born Sam called about the emergency.

However, owing to the severity of their injuries, the duo had to be transferred to a local airfield to await two helicopter air ambulances from Johannesburg to pick them up. Both were airlifted by the ER24 chopper to Busamed Modderfontein Hospital in Johannesburg for treatment.

During the early hours of Tuesday morning, a surgery was performed on young Finn in order to release blood pressure on his brain from injuries sustained in the brutal assault. Katy required surgery as well. The mother and son are currently in stable but critical condition, according to doctors.

Confirming the incident, Riaan Cilliers, the manager of Blyde Wildlife Estate, said: "We are all in shock about this very sad incident and we ensure the family that they are in our prayers." He agreed that the giraffe was just being protective of her two-month-old calf after possibly being surprised by Katy and Finn.

In a press statement, husband and father Sam Williams called the tragedy an 'unfortunate act of nature' where the beast saw the wife and child as a potential threat to her beloved offspring.

Having said that, he urged the public as well as media to respect their privacy during 'this very difficult time' and subsequently released two family photographs for the press. Meanwhile, family lawyer Marina Botha from Botha & Lovegrove Attorneys, situated in Hoedspruit, will be handling any further queries regarding the incident.