Woman Puts Raccoon In Headlock After Attack During Christmas Light Install

A woman by the name of Donna Sanginario just fought a raccoon who tried to put a stop to her seasonal holiday display.

The 70-year-old woman from Lancaster, Massachusetts, said that she was just minding her own business, hanging Christmas lights, when she was viciously attacked by a 40-pound raccoon that appeared out of nowhere, according to a local news station.

“It looked at me and started jumping up at me, so I put my hand over my face … we were both screaming so loud it was unbelievable,” Sanginario said. “He wouldn’t let go for anything, he just attached … I got this big thing over my head, I was like ‘Someone help me!'”

The struggle lasted for five minutes. Sanginario went to a local hospital, which treated her for broken ribs. She also needed several shots, including tetanus, because the raccoon was rabid.

In a public Facebook post, Sanginario documented photographs of the bruises and scratches she endured from the attack for all to see.

She began the post, writing, “This past Wednesday around 4 pm. I was putting some lights around bushes in front of my home. I could hear this strange noise coming from the street. I turned around to see what the noise was and I was staring at a huge raccoon about 10 feet away. Before I could do anything it jumped at me.”

She described the encounter as the “worst nightmare of my life.”

“Both me and the raccoon were screaming so loud,” she went on. “As I was screaming for help he fell off my arm but jumped right back on me to continue to attack. After somehow tumbling to the ground I got him in a headlock and wouldn’t let go. As he was biting me I could hear bones breaking in his neck. He finally stopping screaming so I got off him. He got up and walked away.”

“Can you believe it? I really thought I was going to die,” she added. “It’s been a rough couple days but a weekend with my girlfriends is helping take the pain and trauma away.”

Sanginario revealed that after she returned from the hospital, she did eventually get her lights up and said that she will “always out here have a bat or something from now on.”

Many users took to the comments section to express relief that Sanginario is okay.

“Donna – OMG! So happy you survived this,” one user wrote. “What a horrible, scary experience! Hope your wounds heal quickly – it hurts just looking at them!”

“I’m very sorry this happened to you,” another wrote. “You’re one tough woman!!!!!”

“So sorry to hear that Donna!” said another. “You were so brave! Wishing you a fast recovery. Get well soon. Hugs.”

“Wow! That's a horror!” wrote another. “Hope you're OK, and have been able to calm down after such a scare!!!”

“Are you OK, was it rabid?” one asked. Sanginario responded to the question, saying, “didn’t catch him hope he died.”