Salt Lake City, UT
A Mormon missionary mauled by two lions at a Guatemala zoo last week is now recovering at a Salt Lake area hospital, says his family.
Paul Oakey, 20, was at a preparation activity on July 11 when the attack occurred. His family says he was standing about two feet away from the lion cage when the lions attacked him from behind the bars.
His mother Judy Allen says one lion had his left arm and shoulder, while another had his right leg, trying to eat him for about two minutes.
“One of the elders from Mexico City, Elder Lopez, his companion, scaled the wall and took a big pipe and took…opened the jaws of the lion and freed my son,” said Judy Allen.
Elder Oakey lost about five pints of blood after the attack, but received blood transfusions from other missionaries. He underwent several surgeries in Guatemala to repair damage to his arm in leg.
His mother Judy Allen says one lion had his left arm and shoulder, while another had his right leg, trying to eat him for about two minutes.
“One of the elders from Mexico City, Elder Lopez, his companion, scaled the wall and took a big pipe and took…opened the jaws of the lion and freed my son,” said Judy Allen.
Elder Oakey lost about five pints of blood after the attack, but received blood transfusions from other missionaries. He underwent several surgeries in Guatemala to repair damage to his arm in leg.
Jared Preusz, Web Content Producer fox13now.com
10:03 a.m. MDT, July 18, 2011
http://www.fox13now.com/news/local/kstu-mormon-missionary-lions-mormon-missionary-mauled-by-lions-recovering-in-utah-20110718,0,324492.story