Boy, 11, fights for his life in hospital after ‘lion attack’

An 11-year-old boy is in ICU at the Mediclinic Muelmed hospital in the Pretoria CBD after he was allegedly mauled by a lion.

According to reports, the boy was attacked by the lion in Lephalale at 12.45pm on Saturday, the Rekord East reports.

It is alleged the lion grabbed Prinsloo by the throat.

Kristian Prinsloo was rushed to a local hospital for emergency treatment before being transferred to Muelmed.

Chris Botha of Netcare 911 said the boy was seriously injured.

“At 17.44pm on Saturday the Netcare 1 medical helicopter was activated to Laphelale to airlift a boy that was seriously injured after he was bitten by a lion,” said Botha.

“He was stabilised for the flight, then airlifted under the constant care of two emergency care practitioners to a specialised hospital in Pretoria for the care that he required.”

Hospital spokesperson Sanet Dippenaar said the boy was on a ventilator in the ICU.

“He is in a critical but stable condition,” said Dippenaar.

She added that Prinsloo was sedated because of the swelling in his brain and was in a coma.

Prinsloo’s family have not responded on the incident.

– Caxton News Service

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