Young woman from Montreal survives lion attack in South Africa

MONTREAL – A young woman from Montreal is happy to be alive after being attacked by a lion in South Africa.

Eighteen-year-old Lauren Fagen is recovering after she was attacked by a lion at the Moholoholo wild animal rehabilitation centre in South Africa.

“This young lady sustained multiple bites to her legs and to her lower body,” said Robyn Baard, the client services manager at Medi-Clinic Nelspruit.

Fagen has been a volunteer at the centre, a rehabilitation clinic that cares for wild animals that are injured or orphaned.

According to The Canadian Press, the five-year-old lion reached out to grab Fagen’s leg and then tried to drag her into the cage.

She was brought to the clinic Monday.

“She’s upbeat and we’re expecting one of her parents to arrive in South Africa soon,” said Baard.

“At this stage, she is not in any danger.”

The centre is located near Pretoria, the north east region of South Africa.