Officials at a northern Ohio vocational school say a steer attacked a veteran instructor during a meat processing class, and students reacted quickly by closing a gate to block the animal and calling 911.

WJW-TV in Cleveland reports that Bill Kucic was leading the 1,200-pound steer to be put down when it turned on him in a chute and flipped him into the air last week at Pioneer Career and Technology Center in Shelby. The school’s superintendent says Kucic hit his head and suffered broken bones and cuts. He was taken to a Columbus hospital, where he was in fair condition Thursday.

Investigators say the chute or students’ voices may have spooked the steer. It was later killed.

The school is considering changing how livestock are brought to slaughter there.

Sources: AP, WJW News