Man attacked by camel, circus evicted

57-year-old animal handler flown to trauma center

A man was flown to a local hospital last week after sustaining injuries from a camel attack at the Charles County Fairgrounds.

On Friday, the Charles County Volunteer Fire and Emergency Services responded to a report of a man bitten by a camel at the Charles County Fairgrounds, on Fairgrounds Road in La Plata, said spokesman Bill Smith.

EMS personnel arrived to find that the victim was a 57-year-old male animal handler with the circus which was in town at the time, Smith said.

“He was bitten on the leg, and then trampled on the head by the camel,” Smith said.

Smith said the man was medevacked to the

Prince George’s Hospital Center for treatment of his injuries.

The Greenville, S.C.based Lewis and Clark Circus was scheduled to perform in Charles County July 13-14, according

to its website.

County officials, however, said the circus did not have the appropriate permits.

“The county became aware that a circus was setting up their equipment at the Charles County Fairgrounds and determined the circus had not applied for nor received a special event permit,” Erin Pomrenke, Charles County Government spokeswoman, said in an email. “This resulted in the issuance of a ‘stop work order.’ The circus then canceled their performances.”

Attempts to reach the circus by phone, email and social media before press time were unsuccessful.