By The COAST Reporter
Email, thecoastnewspaper@gmail.com
The County Government of Lamu has hailed the swift and coordinated emergency response that saved the life of a 26-year-old woman who was seriously injured in a leopard attack in Mangal Village, Basuba Ward, within the Boni Forest area.
The incident occurred at approximately 8:00 a.m. when an elderly resident unknowingly disturbed a leopard that had been resting behind his homestead while opening a nearby chicken coop.
Startled by the movement, the leopard attacked the elderly man, inflicting minor bite injuries before turning on his daughter, who had rushed outside after hearing his screams.
The young woman sustained deep facial lacerations, severe injuries to her right hand and significant blood loss.
A courageous neighbour intervened and managed to kill the leopard, preventing further injuries and averting a greater tragedy.
The victim immediately received life-saving first aid from a Community Health Volunteer (CHV) before the Lamu County Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) was alerted.
“Upon receiving the distress call, Our Tactful Emergency Medical Technician Mr. Nuru Abdulaziz activated the county’s emergency response system and dispatched an ambulance within the EOC’s target turnaround time of seven minutes.”
The patient was rushed to Kiangwe Dispensary, where she was stabilized through emergency wound management, intravenous fluid resuscitation, tetanus prophylaxis and other critical interventions before being referred to King Fahad County Referral Hospital for specialized treatment.
She is currently in stable condition and responding well to treatment.
Medical assessment confirmed that the patient had suffered deep facial wounds, extensive soft tissue injuries to her right hand and considerable blood loss, underscoring the importance of the rapid emergency response.
Commenting on the incident, Governor Issa Abdalla Timamy, EGH, praised the professionalism and coordination demonstrated by the emergency responders.
“I commend the exceptional coordination displayed by our award-winning Emergency Operations Centre, the Community Health Volunteer, our ambulance team and the healthcare workers whose dedication and professionalism saved this young woman’s life. This incident demonstrates why Lamu County invested in a modern Emergency Operations Centre—to ensure that every resident, regardless of how remote their location, has access to rapid, coordinated and life-saving emergency services. Today, that investment has once again proven its value by saving a life.”
The governor reaffirmed the County government’s commitment to strengthening emergency preparedness and ensuring quality emergency medical services remain accessible across all parts of Lamu County, including remote and hard-to-reach communities.
The incident is yet another testament to the effectiveness of the award-winning Lamu County Emergency Operations Centre, which continues to integrate community volunteers, ambulance services, healthcare facilities and emergency responders under one coordinated command system, significantly improving emergency response across the county.
Shee Kupi Shee, director of disaster Risk Management and Peace Building, urged residents, particularly those living around the Boni Forest ecosystem, to remain vigilant.
“As we celebrate this successful emergency response, I urge residents living near wildlife habitats to remain vigilant, especially during the early morning and evening hours when wild animals are more likely to roam near homesteads. Any wildlife sightings should be reported immediately to the Kenya Wildlife Service and local authorities. Community awareness, early reporting and preparedness remain our strongest tools in preventing human-wildlife conflict.”
The Lamu County government also commended the bravery of the local resident who intervened to stop the attack, as well as the Community Health Volunteer, Kiangwe Dispensary staff, ambulance crew and all emergency responders whose collective efforts ensured the victim received timely medical attention.
The government remains committed to protecting lives through strengthened emergency preparedness, coordinated response systems and continued collaboration with the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) and local communities to reduce the risks associated with human-wildlife conflict.
