At first everything looked like another relaxing evening in Cancun. The Buhl family from the US city of Philadelphia vacationed in Mexico in June. Charlie Buhl (12) was playing hide and seek with other children when the horror attack happened. Charlie’s mother, Jennifer Buhl (50), reports about it in one Blog on your company’s website.
It all started with a game on the evening of June 18: The 12-year-old hid together with a friend on a staircase that leads to a lagoon.
What the 12-year-old didn’t know: His life was in danger. A three-meter-long crocodile lay in wait for prey. And the boy came at just the right time. The animal jumped out of the water, packed Charlie Buhl by the leg and dragged him into the water. The youth had no chance. “I couldn’t do anything. It was so strong, “said the boy about the attack on” Good Morning America “.
Hotel guests beat the animal
The crocodile’s bite didn’t hurt at all in the beginning. “It just felt like someone was grabbing your leg and squeezing it tight with their hands.” It almost felt like the teeth were holding back the blood. Because with his teeth in his leg he did not have as much pain as later after the attack.
Hotel guests and employees heard the boy’s screams and rushed to help. While some held the boy, others worked on the crocodile. They beat the animal. With success. The reptile left Charlie Buhl. He was alive, but his leg was badly injured.
He almost lost his leg
He was immediately taken to the hospital and treated. Several operations followed. Doctors tried to save the leg and prevent an amputation. The Buhl family had to extend their vacation four weeks. That was how long the boy was treated. The 12-year-old has now recovered well. He can walk again.
According to Charlie’s mother, the hotel knows that there are crocodiles in the lagoon. So far there have been no signs pointing out the danger. That has since changed. The hotel responded. The hospital costs were also covered.
It is not the first crocodile attack in Mexico. A few days before the attack on Charlie Buhl, the British Melissa L. * (28) was attacked by a crocodile on a swimming trip in Puerto Escondido. Her twin sister was able to save the 28-year-old. (jmh)
* Name known to the editor