The girl was attacked after she and her brother kicked a soccer ball over the back fence of their home at Madeira Road and went to retrieve it from the adjoining vacant land. 

Their mother believes the kangaroo was in the bushes and was startled.  

Although the boy spotted the kangaroo, he was not able to warn his sister before it attacked her. 

 It pushed the girl to the ground and attacked her with its paws, but did not kick her. 

The kangaroo hopped away after the girl’s brother let out a “massive yell” and threw a rock at it. 

The girl ran inside the house and told her mother she had been attacked by a kangaroo. 

At the Mudgee Hospital, the eight-year-old was treated for scratches and cuts on her shoulder blade, back and waist. 

The children’s mother described the event as a “hideous experience”. 

She said she wanted to warn others to be wary of kangaroos so that other children would not be attacked.