Jayden has returned to school and is coping well after being attacked by a lion during the school holidays.
The lodge, also known as the Tzaneen Lion and Predatory Park, offers visitors the opportunity to interact with lion cubs and other wild animals within enclosures.
After spending time in other cages, Jayden along with both his parents, his uncle and aunt, as well as a guide from the lodge entered the final enclosure housing five lions which is when a 14-month-old lion turned on Jayden.
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“The lion put its two legs and his paws on my shoulders and bumped me into a pole,” says Jayden.
His mother Sonja Swanepoel says it was at this point that the lion grabbed him by the neck and dragged him across the ground.
“The rest is sort of a blur,” she says.
Jayden’s uncle, Joost Swanepoel, who is a paramedic, jumped on the lion’s back while his mother swooped him up and started running towards the exit.
“When the lion bit me my mom yelled my name because there was blood everywhere,” says Jayden.
“I put him down on a table outside of the enclosure to look him over which was when I noticed the gaping neck wound,” Sonja says.
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Jayden was rushed to Mediclinic Tzaneen where his wound was cleaned and repaired under anaesthesia.
He was released from the hospital the following morning and returned to the lodge to view the lions from outside the enclosure and also got the opportunity to bottle feed a baby meerkat.
His parents also thanked the lodge for their quick response and support although they expressed concern over the size of the lions in that final enclosure.
Jayden returned to school last Wednesday and is in good health.
Letaba River Lodge did not respond to any communication attempts made by the Advertiser.
