A British woman described how she was gored in the leg by a yak while climbing Mount Everest while Facetiming with her family in the UK.
Emma Keen, 42, was left bleeding profusely after the yak horn pierced her leg, leaving her with a 3-inch gash.
The store manager was on an 80-mile mission to trek to Everest Base Camp when she was attacked on the fourth day of the trek in the village of Tengboche.
Keen, from South Wales, was talking to her brother on Facetime when she saw the yak and turned the camera to show the mammal, which was just two meters away from her.
She said: ‘Without warning I could hear hooves pounding towards me, a stabbing pain in the top of my leg. He launched me into the air about three feet and I landed with a thud.
Emma Keen, 42, was bleeding profusely after the yak horn pierced her leg, leaving her with a three-inch gash (pictured in photo of Ms. Keen after arriving at Mount Everest Base Camp, posted by a friend with a congratulatory message)
Ms Keen, from South Wales, was talking to her brother on Facetime when she saw the yak and turned the camera to show the mammal, which was just two meters away from her (stock image of yaks on Mount Everest).
Ms Keen (pictured) said of the attack: “Without warning I could hear hooves pounding towards me, a searing pain in the top of my leg. He launched me into the air about three feet and I landed again with a thud.
‘Holding my upper leg I looked and the yak was dragging its hoof across the dusty ground ready to attack me a second time with its horns down. I screamed and managed to lift my leg and scream.’
A teammate raised the alarm to seek medical help for Ms Keen, who was bleeding profusely.
She received emergency first aid from other members of the walking group before being airlifted to hospital.
He needed ten stitches in his leg after the terrible injury.
Fortunately, firefighter Carl Marsh was also on the trip and was able to help Mrs Keen thanks to his medical training in the fire service.
He said: “We had just arrived and were enjoying our first coffee to warm up when one of the team members ran into the teahouse shouting for help, saying she had just been attacked by a yak.
‘Instincts kicked in and we moved Emma to a safe place away from danger.
‘Emma was screaming in pain and I could quickly see that the yak horn had pierced Emma’s leg with a large hole in her hiking tights and blood running down her leg.
“I called the first aid kit and applied pressure to the wound to try to stop the bleeding. (We) bandaged the wound while communicating with the Sherpas to organize a medical evacuation as soon as possible.
‘We were supported by NHS midwife Katy Williams, who did an incredible job reassuring Emma and taking her medical observations at the same time.
Keen, who has already raised more than £2,300 for Kidney Wales, was adamant about completing the walk, so rejoined the group as soon as he recovered and finished the final steps on horseback (archive image of Mount Everest seen from the town of Tengboche)
A friend posted photos of Keen arriving at Mount Everest Base Camp on social media and wrote: ‘Congratulations Emma, you are an inspiration!’
“Emma fell in and out of consciousness and realized she needed urgent medical attention.”
Yaks, also known as grumpy ox, are a type of long-haired cow found throughout the Himalayan region. They rarely attack humans, but can be very protective and attack if they believe they are in danger.
Keen, who has already raised more than £2,300 for Kidney Wales, was adamant about completing the walk, so he rejoined the group as soon as he recovered and finished the final steps on horseback.
She said: ‘It was important that I continue with the walk because it meant a lot to me. Before taking the flight, I could imagine myself at Basecamp, something I had been training for and looking forward to for over a year.
He said he chose the charity because his mother Helen had polycystic kidneys and needed an urgent kidney transplant.
Mrs Keen added: “My charity means a lot to me as my brother Peter is currently on the transplant list and desperately needs a kidney.”
‘When the accident happened I kept thinking about him and how he would feel if he reached base camp.
‘The team I was with at the time of the accident were excellent, they treated my injury very quickly and encouraged me through what was one of the scariest moments of my life.
‘The Sherpas have been exceptional. They managed to get the helicopter. If it wasn’t for them, I would have been waiting until the next day because time was running out. ‘
A friend posted photos of Keen arriving at Mount Everest Base Camp on social media and wrote: ‘Congratulations Emma, you are an inspiration!’