Today (Sunday), Hadassah Hospital reported on the condition of the zookeeper who was critically injured after being attacked by a crocodile during his work at the Biblical Zoo. The statement said that the caretaker is still in surgery, with his condition described as serious but stable.
Professor Bela Miklos, head of the Trauma Unit at Hadassah, informed that the complex surgery for the 45-year-old patient is ongoing, performed by a multidisciplinary team of anesthesiologists, surgeons, orthopedists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons, and plastic surgeons. "The injured arrived in the Trauma Unit in serious condition with injuries throughout his body. After an initial assessment, he was taken to the operating room for further evaluation and to stabilize his condition, primarily respiratory," he said. "He is currently undergoing complex surgery, his condition is stable, and the surgery is expected to be completed in the coming hours."
As reported earlier today, a crocodile attacked an employee at the Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem during his work, and a security guard shot the crocodile, saving the worker's life.
Magen David Adom paramedic Israel Polak said: "We arrived at the crocodile enclosure at the zoo, and the staff there brought us a fully conscious 40-year-old man. They told us that while he was working in the enclosure, one of the crocodiles lunged at him, grabbed him by the face and other parts of his upper body, and pulled him into the water. The worker struggled with it, and additional staff members helped to rescue him from the crocodile’s jaws. We provided life-saving medical treatment and transported him to the hospital with his condition being serious. This is a very severe and unusual incident."
The zoo stated: "During routine activities in the crocodile enclosure, one of the zookeepers was attacked and was taken to the hospital in moderate condition. The incident occurred in a confined area, and at no point was there any danger to the visiting public. We are investigating the event and send our wishes for a speedy recovery to the zookeeper."
