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SYDNEY, Australia - An elderly woman was attacked by a large kangaroo on a farm in Australia and was lucky to be alive after a pet dog leapt to her aid.

The kangaroo lunged without warning at 65-year-old Rosemary Neal as she went to check on some horses in a paddock on the property near Mudgee, 260 kilometres northwest of Sydney on Friday.

Darren Neal says the kangaroo jumped up and launched straight at his mother. It hit her once and she just dropped and rolled.

That's when her dog heard her screaming and bolted down and chased the kangaroo away.

Darren says if it wasn't for the dog his mother would probably be dead.

Rosemary Neal was hospitalized for deep cuts to her face, hands and back and a concussion.

Kangaroos are widespread across Australia and there are dozens of species in the family, ranging from tiny potoroos to Red Kangaroos, the world's largest marsupial.

It can grow past two metres tall and weigh more than 45 kilograms.

Most species are not considered aggressive toward humans, and attacks are extremely rare.