A Kenyan couple from Isiolo County has lived to tell the tale of a terrifying encounter with a lion that left them fighting for their lives. Michael Apaiyu and his wife Susan Chebet narrowly escaped death after being viciously attacked by the wild animal.
The harrowing incident unfolded when the couple found themselves face to face with the lion while Susan was collecting firewood in the Maili Nane area. Faced with the perilous situation, Michael bravely decided to confront the lion head-on rather than flee for safety.
In a courageous act of self-defense, Michael grappled with the lion, sustaining severe injuries in the process. Despite the ferocity of the attack, he refused to succumb to the predator’s onslaught. Meanwhile, Susan, witnessing the terrifying spectacle, could only watch in horror as her husband fought for their survival.
For approximately 20 agonizing minutes, Michael struggled against the lion’s relentless assault. Miraculously, Susan managed to intervene by striking the lion twice in the eye with a panga (machete), ultimately forcing the animal to retreat.
However, the couple’s ordeal was far from over as Susan herself became a target of the lion’s aggression, suffering injuries to her chest and legs during the altercation.
Reflecting on their narrow escape, Susan expressed a mixture of relief and concern for their children, left behind as they both recuperated in hospital with serious injuries.
The fate of the lion remains uncertain, with conflicting reports suggesting that it may have been killed or escaped with injuries after the encounter.
In the aftermath of the incident, relatives of the couple have called for compensation from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), citing inadequate measures to prevent human-wildlife conflicts and secure national parks.
As the couple continues to recover from their ordeal, their story serves as a stark reminder of the dangers posed by encounters with wildlife in Kenya’s rural areas.