Another child attacked by crocodile; hospital transfer hampered due to fuel shortage
A 13-year-old child, who went to Kataragama Detagamuwa Lake to gather leaves with his parents, was attacked by a crocodile today (17).
The parents who saw the incident and a group of people nearby had taken steps to save the child.
The child had sustained severe injuries to one hand.
The crocodile was holding the child’s hand firmly and dragging the child when one of the rescuers had hit the crocodile with a big stone and he had released the child’s hand.
The rescued child was taken to the Kataragama Regional Hospital for treatment, but it is reported that the transfer to the Hambantota General Hospital for further treatment was hindered due to lack of fuel in the hospital’s ambulance.
Later the people of the area had rushed the child to the Hambantota Hospital in a small lorry.
Speaking to Ada Derana, the child’s aunt had said, “The crocodile came from beneath my feet and when he was pulling the child from one hand, I pulled him from the other hand. But I could not hold on and I came ashore and shouted for help and those nearby came and started hitting the crocodile with poles, but he held on until it came ashore.”
Meanwhile, a seven-year-old boy named Chanut Sathsara, who went swimming in Dunnabindunu lake in Sigiriya, Kumbukkadanwala