By Lisa Gentes
A Northboro grandfather out for a hike yesterday tackled an attacking coyote to save his grandson's life.
The 76-year-old man was first attacked from behind by the wild animal and then put it in a choke hold when it lunged for his neck.
Police say Arthur Cole's bravery allowed his 4-year-old grandson to run to safety.
The boy then alerted family nearby. The boy told everyone ``a wolf'' got ``Grampy.''
Family members called 911 and they all descended upon the path along the Assabet River a quarter-mile away from the grandfather's home.
``We got there and found the guy on top of the animal,'' firefighter Jamie Desautels said. ``The guy basically saved his grandson.''
Firefighters used an animal snare to restrain the female coyote, which was still biting Cole, fire officials said.
``He stayed pretty calm; he did well,'' said Desautels. Police then killed the coyote.
``We basically choked the animal to death,'' Northboro Police Sgt. James Bruce said, adding they couldn't shoot the animal because Cole's arm was under the coyote's head.
The grandfather suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the 4:30 p.m. attack, according to police.
He was taken to Marlboro Hospital.
The dead coyote was taken to Tufts Veterinary School in Westboro for testing to determine whether it was rabid.
Cole, a lifelong Northboro resident and chairman of the town's trail committee, sustained about eight bites and needed some stitches, family members said.
``He is going to be fine,'' his son, Peter Cole, said.
``It was traumatic but we survived.''
A Northboro grandfather out for a hike yesterday tackled an attacking coyote to save his grandson's life.
The 76-year-old man was first attacked from behind by the wild animal and then put it in a choke hold when it lunged for his neck.
Police say Arthur Cole's bravery allowed his 4-year-old grandson to run to safety.
The boy then alerted family nearby. The boy told everyone ``a wolf'' got ``Grampy.''
Family members called 911 and they all descended upon the path along the Assabet River a quarter-mile away from the grandfather's home.
``We got there and found the guy on top of the animal,'' firefighter Jamie Desautels said. ``The guy basically saved his grandson.''
Firefighters used an animal snare to restrain the female coyote, which was still biting Cole, fire officials said.
``He stayed pretty calm; he did well,'' said Desautels. Police then killed the coyote.
``We basically choked the animal to death,'' Northboro Police Sgt. James Bruce said, adding they couldn't shoot the animal because Cole's arm was under the coyote's head.
The grandfather suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the 4:30 p.m. attack, according to police.
He was taken to Marlboro Hospital.
The dead coyote was taken to Tufts Veterinary School in Westboro for testing to determine whether it was rabid.
Cole, a lifelong Northboro resident and chairman of the town's trail committee, sustained about eight bites and needed some stitches, family members said.
``He is going to be fine,'' his son, Peter Cole, said.
``It was traumatic but we survived.''