A grade two boy is lucky to be alive thanks to his two friends who saved him from the jaws of a crocodile at Lake Baringo on Wednesday, November 25.
Lesabato Tiren, who is currently recuperating at the Baringo County Hospital, narrated that he and his friends, 12-year-old Betty Lowaar 14-year-old Kemboi Lawaar had gone to get water at the lake when the crocodile attacked Tiren.
"When I bent over to fetch the water, the crocodile lodged its jaws on my right hand and started dragging me into the water," Tiren narrated.
On seeing this, Betty and Kemboi responded by poking the crocodile's nose with sticks and screaming for help.
By the time the people heard the screams, the crocodile had loosened its grip on the boy and gone back to its habitat.
The locals rushed the three to the Marigat sub-county hospital for treatment. Kemboi and Betty escaped with minor injuries. However, due to the damage done to Tiren's hand, he was transferred to the Baringo County Hospital.
The medical officer in charge of Baringo County Hospital, Charles Maswai, disclosed that Lesabato was responding well to treatment.
“When he was brought here, he was in a bad state, his right upper limb was also dislocated but he is recuperating well,” he told the Standard.
Confirming the incident, the Baringo Kenya Wildlife Service warden Peter Lekeren said that Tiren's two friends were also attacked while they attempted to save their friend.
“The crocodile attacked Lesabato on his arm and when Betty saw what was happening, she went to rescue him only to be attacked on the thigh," Lekeren stated.
The warder added that it was a miracle that the crocodile let go of the boy.
Lekeren stated that cases of human-wildlife conflicts had been on the rise in the area with many being injured by crocodiles and hippopotamus while fishing.
"Baringo County has recorded 38 cases of human-wildlife conflict which have resulted in five deaths. These deaths were mostly caused by snakes, crocodiles and hippopotamuses," he continued.
