Crocodile Attack Survivor Treated at Bugando Medical Center

Mr. Shaibu Hussen, 40, from Kigoma Msimba, was attacked by a crocodile on May 2nd, 2010. Mr. Hussen is a farmer who grows tomatoes and other vegetables. He lives in Msimba but goes to Mgumili village where his farmland is.

On that day, Mr. Hussen was next to his farmland fishing in Lake Tanganyika. Soon after he started fishing he heard something move. When he turned to look he saw it was a crocodile. The animal attacked Mr. Hussen and pulled him into the water. Luckily for Mr. Hussen he had a knife in his pocket, which he managed to take out. The two fought until the crocodile swallowed Mr. Hussen all the way up to his chest. Mr. Hussen took his knife and stuck it into the crocodile's neck. The animal opened his mouth and spit Mr. Hussen out.

The two fighters were both tired as well as injured. They were just looking at each other. Mr. Hussen was bleeding a lot from his injuries and his hands were torn as well as broken. The crocodile moved away- Mr. Hussen thinks he did such to take care of his own wounds. Mr. Hussen tried to move somewhere safe but needed assistance. He started to scream and his wife came and called other people for help.

Mr. Hussen was taken to Maweni Regional Hospital. He was later transported to Bugando Medical Center where he was assessed and found to have an amputation of his left arm, broken bones, and multiple bruises. He was taken to the operating theatre the same day by Dr. Dass. Mr. Hussen  received good care and is now doing well at the hospital.

Reprinted with permission from Bugando Medical Center