A rider that was kicked by a kangaroo in Southern Australia says her breast implants ruptured and acted like ‘air bags’.

Sharon Heinrich, 45, and her friend Helen Salter, 47, were riding side by side along a tourist route in the Clare Valley in South Australia state late last months when they came across a kangaroo. Passing the animal, the women reported to Associated Press that it “bounded across the trail, landing with his long hind legs first on Heinrich’s left torso and then on Salter’s back. It knocked both from their bikes before hopping off, apparently unharmed.”

Salter suffered concussion and whiplash, but was able to cycle to a nearby business to call an ambulance. Heinrich broke three ribs, and her breast implants ruptured.

Both women work in a nursing home close to where they were riding, and are used to seeing kangaroos. Recalling the incident, Heinrich said: “I’ve gone to ride past, I thought: ‘He’s cute,’ and he’s just jumped me and taken out the side of me. As I’m falling, I felt him push off me and then he’s flown to Helen and taken her out. He looked peaceful. He didn’t look angry.”

Discussing the ruptured implants, she said: “They worked as air bags and have been ruptured by the ordeal.”

Heinrich’s husband gave her a stuffed toy boxing kangaroo as a memento – and she’s in good spirits, saying: “It’s all you can do now: Laugh about it and heal.”

We’re pleased to hear both riders are safe and well, and would suggest any cyclists planning on visiting known kangaroo territory remain extremely cautious.  Breast implants or not.