Yak attack can’t stop fundraising feat
A CHARITY fundraiser who was airlifted to hospital after being attacked by a yak carried on with her mission to climb to Everest Base Camp despite her injuries.
Emma Keen, who was with a group from South Wales trekking for different charities, was left with a three-inch cut to her leg after the attack.
She was taking part in the trek to raise money for a charity very close to her heart – the Kidney Wales Foundation. She chose it because her mum Helen had a condition called polycystic kidneys and needed an urgent transplant.
Emma says: “She held on for quite a while and was eventually gifted a new kidney from an unknown donor. For us as a family we felt like we had won the lottery, it was the best feeling in the world.
“The reason why I did this challenge is to give back to the charity what they have given my family – love, hope and life.”
But her dream of completing the 130km trek nearly didn’t happen because of the incident in the village of Tengbouche, which came after the team had completed a 900m climb on the fourth day.
They had not long arrived when Emma was attacked by a yak and was bleeding heavily from a large hole in her leg.
She was drifting in and out of consciousness and received emergency first aid. Footage shows that Emma was able to push the yak after the first attack, which gave her enough time to get away before collapsing on the floor.
Yaks, also known as a grunting ox, are a type of long-haired cow found throughout the Himalayan region. They rarely attack humans but can charge if they think they are in danger.
Fellow trekker Carl Marsh said: “We had just arrived and we were enjoying our first coffee to warm us up when one of the team come running into the tea house screaming for help saying ‘she’s just been attacked by a yak’.
“Being a firefighter and medically trained, I ran outside to see what had happened, closely followed by Luke Rual who works for Mines Rescue and is also medically trained. We became close friends whilst working as prison officers at HMP Parc prison in Bridgend.
“Instincts kicked in and we moved Emma to a safe place away from the danger. Emma was screaming in pain and I could quickly see the yak’s horn had gone through Emma’s leg with a big hole in her hiking leggings and blood running down her leg.
“I called for the first aid kit and applied pressure to the wound to try and stop the bleeding. Luke and I dressed the wound whilst liaising with the Sherpas to arrange for a medical evacuation as soon as possible. “We were supported by NHS midwife Katy Williams who did an amazing job reassuring Emma and taking her medical observations at the same time.
“Emma was in and out of consciousness and realised she needed urgent medical attention.” A helicopter arrived within minutes and Emma, who is a manager for
Helly Hansen in Bridgend, was airlifted to Lukla airport and taken to a medical centre for treatment to a three-inch cut on her leg that needed 10 stitches.
After being stabilised, Emma, not being a quitter, decided she would like to continue on the trip and rejoined the group to finish the final few days on horseback to reach her lifetime goal of getting to the base camp.