A BRITISH hiker was left seriously injured after being attacked by a yak while she was climbing near Mount Everest.
Emma Keen had to be airlifted to hospital after the animal’s horn went through her leg leaving her with a three-inch gash.
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The Brit who was on a mission to reach Everest basecamp in a bid to raise funds for charity was attacked by the animal on the fourth day of the trek at the village of Tengboche.
Recalling the horror she told Wales Online: “I was speaking to my brother and his wife and their son Bobi showing them the yak on FaceTime. I was around two metres away from him.
“Without warning I could hear the hoofs pounding towards me, a sharp stabbing pain in the top of my leg.
“It threw me up in the air around a metre and I landed back down with a thud.
“Clutching my upper leg I looked and the yak was dragging its hoof in the dusty ground ready to go at me for a second time with his horns down.
“I screamed and managed to raise my leg and shout. With that I got up and [fellow team member] Lloyd went for help.
“I was then airlifted to hospital where the medical staff cleaned my wound and stitched me up.”
Despite bleeding heavily, Emma received emergency first aid from other members of the trek group.
Luckily on the trek was firefighter Carl Marsh who was able to help her thanks to his medical training.
He said: “We had just arrived and we were enjoying our first coffee to warm us up when one of the team came running into the tea house screaming for help saying she’s just been attacked by a yak.
“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.”
Emma, who was raising funds for Kidney Wales was airlifted to Lukla airport and taken to a medical centre where she was given ten stitches.
Emma was adamant about completing the trek so she rejoined the group as soon as she recovered and finished the final part of the route on horseback.
She said: “It was important that I continue with the trek as it meant so much to me.
“Before I headed out for the flight, I could imagine myself at basecamp (something I had been training for and looking forward to way over a year).
“My charity means a lot to me as my brother Peter is currently on the transplant list desperately needing a kidney.
“When the accident happened I just kept thinking of him and how he would feel if I got to basecamp.
“My team I was with at the time of the accident were outstanding they tended to my wound very fast and were encouraging at what was one of the most scariest times of my life.
“The Sherpas have been outstanding they managed to arrange the helicopter if it wasn’t for them then I would have been waiting until the next day as time was getting on. ”
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