A grade three pupil was hospitalised after being attacked and seriously injured by a hippopotamus at Nyandiwa beach in Suba South Constituency, Homa Bay County.
The pupil identified as Peter Otieno, an 11-year-old who schools at Kikubi Primary School was rushed to St Camillus Hospital where he was admitted with severe injury on the thigh and under the elbow.
Suba Sub-county Beach Management Unit chairperson, William Onditi reported that the pupil was attacked by the hippo when he went to fetch water at the shore of Lake Victoria at Nyandiwa beach in the company of his colleagues.
According to Onditi, Otieno escaped narrowly after the hippo grabbed him from the thigh while fetching water, before he was rescued after his colleagues raised an alarm to the fishermen and other traders who were at the beach who salvaged the boy’s life.
Onditi revealed that the minor was first moved to a health center within Nyandiwa Trading Center for First aid before he was transferred to St Camillus Hospital in a life-threatening condition.
He stated that the pupil was still in a critical condition after the incident, since he could not utter a word or eat any food at the hospital.
Onditi cautioned parents to be vigilant in monitoring the movement of their children along the lake. He also added that the water level has surged, hence making aquatic animals come out in search of food on several beaches in Suba South.
“Following rising water levels in the lake, I urge parents to be keen on the movement of their children along the beach,” Onditi advised.
Following the recent heavy rains that have been pounding the region, aquatic animals have been coming out of water in search of food thereby posing danger to the inhabitants.
By Isaiah Onuko and Davis Langat
