SYDNEY, Australia -- An elderly Australian woman knocked over and savaged by a large kangaroo on her farm was saved when a dog rushed to her aid and chased the animal away, her son said Saturday.

Rosemary Neal, from western New South Wales, was attacked by a male kangaroo estimated to be up to two meters (six feet, six inches) tall and weighing 100 kilograms (220 pounds) as she crossed a field to check her horses, her son Darren said.

"The kangaroo has just jumped up and launched straight at her. He hit her once and she just dropped and rolled," he said.

"My dog heard her screaming and bolted down and chased him off. If it wasn't for the dog she'd probably be dead."

The 65-year-old woman was taken to hospital after the attack on Friday.

"Her face has been ripped apart, her hand has been mauled, and she's got scratches all over her back and concussion," Darren Neal said.

The region near the town of Mudgee had been overrun by kangaroos in recent years, he said.

"The whole town has been complaining about these kangaroos -- you can't drive down the street without swerving to miss them," he said.