The 32-year-old wildlife expert had entered the animal’s enclosure to conduct a medical procedure when the male giraffe lunged at him.
Paramedic spokesman Jeffrey Wicks said the man suffered serious injuries after the frightened beast butted him before crushing him against a fence.
He said: “The man is an experienced animal handler and had gone inside the enclosure to draw a blood sample from the giraffe when the animal became spooked.
“The worker was right next to the giraffe when it lunged at him and headbutted him.
“It then pushed him next to the fence and crushed him against a post. The man was seriously injured and suffered trauma to the spine.”
Officials confirmed the incident happened at 9am this morning at an animal quarantine centre near the rural town of Hammanskraal, which lies 30 miles north of South Africa’s capital Pretoria.
The victim, who is believed to be South African, was working closely alongside the bull giraffe when it attacked.
Mr Wicks, who works for the private ambulance firm Netcare911, said centre staff helped remove the man to safety before contacting paramedics.
He said: “The other workers at the centre saw what happened and managed to get him out of the enclosure. The victim was conscious but sustained serious spinal injuries.
“They were in a remote location so the staff put him into a car to start the journey to the hospital.
“They then called us and we arranged to meet them near the motorway.
“From there he was airlifted to hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.”
The victim was Tuesday undergoing tests and X-rays at the Steve Biko Academic Hospital in Pretoria.
Giraffes are not usually considered among Africa’s most dangerous animals but the huge beasts can prove deadly if provoked.
The ungulate mammals are usually docile and tend to run away if they feel threatened but have powerful kicks capable of killing predators.
The creatures are known for their long necks and grow to around 20 feet tall. They live in groups in the wild and in game reserves across Africa.
