Kate Drew with bandaged head puts on a brave face after the attackPosted on 02/02/2008 4:46:25 PM PST by decimon
Kate Drew with bandaged head puts on a brave face after the attack
A British teacher's trip to Africa turned to horror - when a lion leapt on her from behind and clamped its jaws round her head.
As she was dragged to the ground, Kate Drew screamed in pain as the animal's teeth sank into her.
To add to her terror, two other lions were prowling not far away, waiting to pounce.
Luckily, tour guides were nearby and they tackled the 400lb animal, wrestling it away from her and saving her from more serious injury or death.
She was left needing 13 stitches in bite wounds - but it is thought the lion may simply have mistaken her for a playmate, because of her mane-like long blonde hair.
"I thought, 'Oh my God, I'm a goner'", said 28-year-old Miss Drew, from Hornchurch, Essex.
"I was scared enough when the lion pinned me to the ground, but when I looked up and saw the other two, I really thought I'd had it."
The primary school headmistress had been working as a volunteer teacher in Tanzania since last September and was spending a few weeks travelling across Africa on a bus with other backpackers.
As part of the trip, they visited a project where lions are bred to be released back into the wild.
Tourists are able to walk with several of the big cats which are considered tame enough to be allowed close contact with humans.
"I was a bit apprehensive, but we were just leaving and everything seemed to have gone well until this one lion jumped at me from behind," said Miss Drew.
Her 57-year-old mother, Carole, said: "She didn't tell me about it at first, because she didn't want to worry me or her father.
"I couldn't believe it when she told me what had happened. I was pretty shocked. She had told me that she planned to go walking with these lions and I said then that I didn't think it was a very good idea.
"At the first hospital, they didn't have a doctor, so they took her to a second hospital where they stitched her up.
"She said it was very painful - she's had the stitches out and her head is still very sore.
"They said it had never happened before. They think that because she's got long, blonde hair the lion thought she was a playmate, another lion."
Her father Colin, a 57-year-old retired oil trader added: "My first reaction was to laugh. It all sounded so unbelievable.
"It all happened so quickly, but she was very, very lucky. However, she has an adventurous nature and it won't put her off."
Miss Drew was yesterday flying out on her latest expedition - to work with disabled children in an orphanage in Peru.
These are the tour guides I'd want. The rest of these people are idiots.
Two more pics at link.
I’ve never heard that lions are nearsighted! Go figure. ;-)
I saw a video on YouTube of these guys in Pakistan petting a grown male lion. At first he did nothing, but then it turned around suddenly and bit one of the guys on the arm. You don’t play with wild animals, people. And when they attack you they’re not “playing,” they think you’re food or they’re annoyed.
Not bright, but not guilty either.
Actually, your typical housecat will do the exact same thing when he wants you to stop petting him.
And there are such things as friendly big cats.
That said, on a whole they are a bad choice for pets and people should not treat them as such unless they’ve been told that a specific cat is friendly.
Tourists are able to walk with several of the big cats which are considered tame enough to be allowed close contact with humans."
What's wrong with this picture?
Yeah, that’s why I said “if they are annoyed.” I have 7 cats, and they always do that when they get tired of being petted.
Big cats can be friendly, I’ve seen a lion hug its keeper and lick her too. But that doesn’t mean you should trust your life with an wild lion or tiger, etc that you don’t know.
Could be a family trait:
"Her father Colin, a 57-year-old retired oil trader added: "My first reaction was to laugh. It all sounded so unbelievable."
Idiots! They're all idiots! Except for the tour guides - they just need the job.
King of the Jungle just looking for some skull........
HEADLINE AT GRIZZLED NEWS!
So, she’s educated enough to be a teacher, but not smart enough to understand why animals are considered wild.
What a retard.
idiot
I’m no longer a Texan but I am smart enough to know that cats play with their prey sometimes before they kill it...
When for Chrissakes will people realize that cats, any cats, see only two things: food, and toys.
Neither of which you want to be if the cat outweighs you.
Way to much to post here.
If the lion had really been serious, two guides probably wouldn’t have been able to save her.
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