An Indian woman is recovering in hospital after being viciously attacked by a leopard while returning to her field in northern India.
She was carrying water from a canal to her crop field in the village of Sem Nauti on August 24 when the leopard pounced from a bush.
Kamla Devi (56) fought the spotted attacker for just over 30 minutes, armed with only a sickle and a small spade, before she finally managed to escape. She then had to walk half a mile to find help.
Doctors were surprised Devi survived the attack.
According to the BBC, Devi is now in a stable condition in hospital after she sustained multiple cuts, bites, fractures and massive blood loss in the ordeal. She also required over 100 stitches for her wounds.
“I thought I was dead but I did not lose patience and courage,” she told reporters after her lucky escape.
The leopard was found dead a short time later on the outskirts of her village in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand.
Devi recuperating from the attack in hospital
Leopard attacks in the region have grown more and more common over the past number of years due to many of the animals being displaced from their homes due to farm and building expansion.
JOE doesn’t advocate the killing of animals at any time, but we are just happy that the woman is not permanently injured following this frightening attack.
Images via the BBC.
LISTEN: You Must Be Jokin’ with Aideen McQueen – Faith healers, Coolock craic and Gigging as Gaeilge
