Viking re-enactor nearly kills partner when he stabs her with sword while practising his moves

A woman was nearly killed by an apparent Viking re-enactor after he stabbed her with a sword while practising his moves outside a caravan.

An unnamed woman sustained a life-threatening injury after a Viking re-enactor sliced her with a sword ‘on her neck’.

The part-time Viking is thought to have been practising his moves outside his caravan when he stabbed her at the grounds of the Woolpack Inn in Benover, near Maidstone, Kent.

She was rushed to Kings College Hospital in London after an air ambulance arrived at the scene on Sunday.

The couple had been living in a caravan on a patch of land behind the 17th Century pub, according to locals. 

They added that the pair had been practicing their sword skills when the brother, whose name is not known, seriously injured his girlfriend in the freak accident. 

A man who lives at a neighbouring house and did not want to be identified said: ‘I saw the helicopter hovering around and a police car shoot down there.

‘I was just sat here reading the paper around 7pm so poked my head out the front and saw the sirens.

‘I’ve heard it was an accident involving a sword but that’s about it.

‘There’s a couple who live in the caravan round the back of the pub.’

Another woman, who wanted to remain anonymous, also lives near the 17th Century pub. She said: ‘I don’t know them but the man who lives in the caravan has a great big beard like a viking.

‘The sword cut her neck and now she’s in hospital. We don’t know how she’s getting on and haven’t heard anything since.

‘We saw the air ambulance land at the back and apparently she had to have a blood transfusion on the spot. It’s a wonder how she didn’t die there and then.’

She added: ‘Apparently they were doing a viking re-enactment where they go slashing swords about and it’s gone terribly wrong.

‘It seems a bit of a funny thing to do with actual weapons but I suppose they’re trying to get as close to the real thing as possible. It’s a bit unexpected for this nice quiet area really.’ 

A woman, who lives nearby, said that neighbours believed the incident occurred when a couple were dressed as Vikings.

She added: ‘The couple live in a caravan near the pub. The guy is a part time Viking and was practising his moves.

‘She was caught with a sword on her neck. She had a blood transfusion on the spot and was then taken to London.

‘We wondered why a helicopter had landed. Police and ambulances also arrived.’

Kent, Sussex and Surrey Air Ambulance service received the call out to an ‘accidental injury’ just after 5pm on July 12.

A spokesperson from South East Coast Ambulance Service said: ‘I can confirm that we were called to reports of a woman with serious injuries in a field near Benover Road, Yalding.

‘Ambulance crews including critical care paramedics attended the scene and were joined at the scene by the air ambulance service.

‘The medical team worked together to provide emergency treatment at the scene before the patient was taken to Kings College Hospital by road in a life-threatening condition.

‘The air ambulance team joined our crews to help treat the patient en route to hospital.’ 

One regular customer who wished to remain anonymous cycled down to the area at around 8pm to enjoy a few pints in the beer garden.

But he said: ‘I’ve never seen any sort of viking behaviour round here. It’s a quiet little place and you don’t hear of any violence or stabbings. I hope the woman will be okay.’

A certified Caravan Club is located on a one acre field behind the Grade II listed Tudor building where people can pitch up for as little as £12 a day. 

A spokesperson for the Woolpack said that the incident was an accident and that it was a ‘private matter’ they did not wish to discuss.