A woman was stabbed in the neck with a sword by a man dressed as a Viking in a re-enactment rehearsal.
An air ambulance rushed to a field behind the Woolpack Inn in Yalding, a village near Maidstone, Kent, to treat the woman with a serious neck injury.
The patient, also dressed in Viking clothing, received emergency treatment at the scene and was taken to King's College Hospital in London by road.
An unnamed neighbour said the man was "practising his moves" when the incident occured.
She said: "They've got proper swords. They were practising and he caught her neck.
"It really was an accident, a terrible one so I'm glad she is okay now."
The two re-enactors are understood to be a couple and had been living in a caravan on the patch of land behind the 17th Century pub.
The air ambulance received a call about an "accidental injury" just after 5pm on July 12.
An ambulance service spokesman said: "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 and were joined 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."
Residents living nearby have been reacting to the news.
One said: "I was quite surprised because it's a lovely quiet village, not much happens here and that's the way I like it. I do hope the people are okay though."
Another said: "I saw the air ambulance people gave her a blood transfusion there and then. It was quite shocking to see it all happen but I'm really glad she's okay."
