Pit bull victim’s arm amputated
A VERULAM man mauled by pit bulls continues to struggle.
Lazarus Appalsamy, 44, from Trenance Park was mauled by his neighbour’s two pit bulls, Sam, 5, and Laeila, 3, while walking home on January 15.
A day after the attack, the owner of the dogs euthanised them at the SPCA.
Appalsamy’s flesh was ripped off his arms, legs and body. His left eye was damaged and his arteries and veins were damaged in his right arm.
Stanley Subbiah, his neighbour and friend, tried to help him but was also bitten. He sustained a bite to his left arm and an injury to his right leg.
Appalsamy was taken to Dr Pixley Ka Isaka Seme Memorial Hospital where doctors amputated his arm last week.
Mary Naidoo, his sister, said his life has been changed forever.
“Lazarus has been in hospital for more than a month. His injuries were brutal and, at one point, we did not think he was going to pull through. The doctors who were treating him tried their best to save his arm but, last Monday morning, maggots started crawling out of the wound on his arm.”
Naidoo said that when she got to the hospital the staff were trying to assist her brother by putting a chemical over the infected area to kill the maggots.
“I could see the maggots crawling out of his arm. He was so terrified. I was so helpless because it was the first time I experienced something so awful. I did not even know what to say to my brother at that moment. I was in tears and I just held him and said: ‘All will be good’.”
She said a surgeon was called in to check his hand for a possible skin graft.
“The surgeon said the skin graft was not possible due to the extent of his injury and the best thing to do was the amputation which was done on Tuesday.”
Naidoo said her brother was discharged on Thursday but he had to be rushed back to hospital on Monday morning because he started having seizures.
“His doctor told us that there is not enough blood flowing to his brain. Doctors have him on oxygen. They are running tests and preparing him for a CT scan. He is critical again.
“Mentally he is not doing well. He cannot remember his family. I believe coming home has traumatised him because he recollected the attack. The loss of his arm finally hit him. We are all very emotional at this time but we have faith all will be okay.
“My brother was a very helpful person in the community. He did odd jobs to get an income. Now what will happen to his livelihood? Seeing him in this condition breaks my heart. Lesley was already traumatised by the pit bull attack and now had to lose his arm. I feel my brother’s pain. His life will never be the same again. He used to be so jovial and full of fun and laughter but this horrifying incident has turned his life into a nightmare.”
She said her brother had gone for counselling.
“Ever since the attack, he has been unable to sleep properly. He is always getting flashbacks of the attacks. My brother had suffered so much pain and agony but still, we have no justice. The investigating officer handling the case says documents are gone to the senior prosecutor but still no arrests have been made. I am not going to leave this matter until my brother gets justice.”
Colonel Robert Netshiunda, a provincial police spokesperson, said Verulam police were investigating a case of keeping ferocious dogs. No arrests have been made.
The owner of the dogs declined to comment.