A 21-year-old secondary school student is recovering from serious injuries after a crocodile seized him at Lwabaswa landing site in Kalangala District, Uganda, in an attack he was fortunate to survive.
Brian Yamani was preparing to board a boat when the reptile struck without warning. He had barely set his bag down when the situation turned life-threatening in seconds.
How Yamani Fought Off the Crocodile
Fighting against the pull of the animal, he managed to use his free hand to force the crocodile’s jaws apart and wrench his arm loose. The creature responded by clamping down on his foot.
“I was placing my bag in the boat when the crocodile pounced, grabbed my arm and started pulling me into deeper water,” Yamani told Bukedde TV.
He added that he used his free arm to pry its mouth open and pull out the other arm. At that point, it grabbed his foot.
Throughout the ordeal, Yamani’s bag had remained strapped to his back. In a moment of quick thinking, he unshouldered it and hurled it directly at the crocodile.
Injuries and Recovery
The animal released his foot and turned its attention to the bag instead, giving Yamani the window he needed to pull himself back onto the boat and out of the water.
The attack left Yamani with significant wounds to both his arm and foot. His presence of mind during the encounter almost certainly spared him from far graver consequences, or worse.
Crocodile attacks at lakeside landing sites in Uganda are not unheard of, particularly in areas around Lake Victoria where the animals are known to come close to shore.
Fishermen and other water users in such areas frequently face the risk of encounters, especially during early morning or evening hours when activity at landing sites is high.
