A grandfather who was launched into the air by a charging bison at Yellowstone National Park has spoken out after dramatic footage of the incident spread across social media.

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Carl Isom-McDaniel, 65, was left with a broken femur and significant bruising after the huge animal caught him while he was attempting to escape with his 13-year-old grandson.

The incident happened at Bridge Bay Campground near Yellowstone Lake on July 10, with wildlife photographer Mike MacLeod capturing the frightening encounter on camera.

Footage shows Isom-McDaniel and his grandson stopping to take pictures of the bison as it lies in the grass.

The pair were reportedly viewing the animal from around 100 yards away when the situation suddenly changed.

In the clip, the bison can be seen repeatedly flopping onto its side before getting back to its feet.

A white truck then slowly approaches the area.

According to Isom-McDaniel, the animal had been “not aggressive” until a passing driver honked their horn.

The bison charged towards the vehicle, prompting the driver to speed away.

But the enormous animal continued forward.

With dirt flying behind it, the bison sprinted towards Isom-McDaniel and his grandson, who attempted to escape through a thicket of trees.

The grandfather and his 13-year-old grandson ran in opposite directions in an effort to avoid the animal.

Isom-McDaniel wasn’t able to get away.

“The bison hooked him with his left horn on his hip and tossed him in the air,” MacLeod told the Cowboy State Daily. “He made a perfect flip and landed on his side.”

The footage shows the 65-year-old being sent high into the air before crashing back to the ground.

Despite the shocking nature of the impact, MacLeod said Isom-McDaniel remained conscious.

“He was in a lot of pain with his leg, and otherwise he was conscious the whole time, in good spirits, joking.”

Isom-McDaniel was taken to hospital following the incident.

He has now given an update on his condition after videos of the encounter quickly gained attention online.

“Thank you everyone I am OK,” the 65-year-old wrote on Facebook, adding a thumbs-up emoji.

While Isom-McDaniel suffered a broken femur and significant bruising, he is expected to make a full recovery.

Speaking to CNN, the grandfather also reflected on just how differently the encounter could have ended.

“When I was on the ground immobile, unable to move, he was right on top of me,” he said. “He could have stomped on me, he could have gored me, he could have done almost anything to take my life, and he did not do so.”

For Isom-McDaniel, the recovery process will involve physical therapy as he works towards walking again.

“I will be doing physical therapy for the next few days to get to walk, but it was not as catastrophic as it could have been,” he added.

The bison involved was reportedly a bull weighing around 2,000lb, or 900kg.

Despite their often calm appearance, the National Park Service warns visitors that bison can pose a serious danger.

“Bison may appear tranquil, but these large animals have injured more people in Yellowstone than any other animal,” the organisation says on its website. “They can run 3x faster than humans, making it very important to give them plenty of space.”

Visitors to Yellowstone are advised to remain at least 25 yards, or 23 metres, away from bison at all times.

The NPS also tells people to “never approach a bison to take a photo”.

The encounter happened during Yellowstone’s busiest period of the year.

According to the NPS, almost 60 per cent of the park’s annual visitation takes place across June, July and August.

July also overlaps with the bison’s mating season.

Jennifer Barfield, scientific lead at Colorado’s Laramie Foothills Bison Conservation Herd, explained that heightened testosterone levels among bulls during the “peak breeding” period can influence their behaviour.

“That’s really going to drive their behaviour, and they’re going to be potentially more unpredictable than at other times of the year,” the Colorado State University professor said.

Barfield said her own team avoids getting close to bison during mating season, except when making observations from the safety of a vehicle.

For anyone exploring the area on foot, her message was equally clear: “It’s always good to keep in mind that 25 yards is a minimum distance for safety.”

Earlier this week, officials also announced that the bison involved in the incident WILL NOT be euthanised and no further action will be taken.

Isom-McDaniel, meanwhile, faces physical therapy after an encounter he openly admits could have had a far more devastating outcome.

Featured image credit: Willians Huerta / Pexels