Guatemala City, Guatemala – An LDS missionary from St. George is now at the center of a miraculous story of survival.
Elder Paul Oakey was mauled by two zoo lions while on a mission in Guatemala. Oakey’s stepfather Jonathan Allen spoke to ABC 4 News. He says Oakey was at a zoo in a rural area of Guatemala, underwent an emergency surgery there and is now on a five-hour journey to Guatemala City where he may undergo more surgery for his arm and nerve damage in his leg. Jonathan Allen admitted things could have been much worse.
20-year-old Paul Oakey wanted to get closer to the lions and made climbed the wall, something his stepfather called "a bad judgment call" Monday afternoon at a remote Guatemala zoo.
“He jumped up on the wall which was about six feet, but there was still a cage around the lions. So where he stood it looked like the lions could not get up to him,” said Allen.
But, the lion's cage was deceiving. The floor of the cage sits higher than the spectator area. After Oakey climbed the wall he turned his back to the lions for a picture. That’s when the lions crept up behind him and attacked.
“One grabbing his leg pulling Paul back against the cage and the other grabbing his shoulder and had him pinned back against the cage as they continued to maul his limbs,” said Allen.
It was Oakey’s companion who ultimately came to the rescue. It was a move that possibly saved the young missionary’s life.
“His companion Elder Lopez jumped up on the wall and jammed a large pole into the lion's mouth to pry its jaws off of his arm. While Paul continued to beat the other lion that had his leg with his fist and gauging the lion's eyes trying to get him to release him,” said Allen.
Immediately after the attack it took doctors five hours in surgery to repair the damage. It all took place in the rural town of Esquipulas. Right now Oakey has an injured arm, loss of blood and nerve damage in one leg. But, Allen says he’s staying in good spirits.
“Paul loves life. And, you know, regardless of his poor judgment in this case, he's energetic, he's healthy, he's strong and he's in good spirits and it's just another adventure for him,” said Allen.
It’s also a lesson learned. Oakey told his family this is something he will never do again.
Once Oakey arrives in Guatemala City he may have more surgery to further repair his injured limbs. His family continues to hope and pray for his full recovery.
Oakey has been serving an LDS mission in Guatemala for 19 months.
UPDATE:
Elder Oakey was in the ICU in critical condition at a hospital in Guatemala City Wednesday night. He went through surgery again, and his mom Judy Allen says bone and teeth fragments have been found in his wounds. The boy is sedated and the family is getting e-mails and prayers from all over the world.
Doctors know Oakey has some nerve damage and his mom was told they would just have to wait and see if he will have full use of his arm and leg.