15-year-old boy loses face to hungry hyena in South African park

A 15-year-old boy was attacked in the face by a hyena in South Africa’s Kruger Park while he was asleep in his tent at a campsite on Sunday morning.

Park authorities who announced the accident on Monday said the boy was sleeping alone in a compartment of the family tent when the hyena attacked, and in the process disfiguring his face.

Spokesperson for South African National Parks (SANParks), William Mabasa, said the animal, which managed to run away, was probably looking for food in the camp after passing through a hole in the fence of the camp which Kruger Park rangers discovered later.

“The animal attacked him in the face … while he was screaming his parents woke up. Luckily, a nurse was in the camp and was able to provide first aid,” Mr Mabasa added.

According to local media, the teenager woke up while the animal was biting his face and the hyena dragged him outside the tent at the Crocodile Bridge Camp.

After he was transported to a hospital in the nearby city of Nelspruit (northeast), the boy was airlifted to Johannesburg where he underwent cosmetic surgery to rebuild his mouth and jaw, Netwerk24 reported.

William Mabasa however advised campers to be constantly aware that there are wild animals around them and they must always close their tents properly.