The two hyenas managed to sneak into the tent through a small opening
A man who was attacked by hyenas while sleeping during a bachelor party has shared how he managed to survive the terrifying ordeal.27-year-old Nicolas Hohls had been resting inside his tent at Cape Vidal Nature Reserve in St. Lucia, South Africa, when the animals crept into the camp.He was there celebrating with his father and several close friends as part of the bachelor party trip.
Earlier that day, the group had spent hours fishing before winding down with food and drinks. After enjoying the evening, they settled into their tents for the night at around 1 a.m.But not long after, about half an hour later, trouble struck.Two hyenas pushed their way into Hohls’ tent through a small six-inch gap in the zipper he had left open for air.
In shock, Hohls woke to an unthinkable sight — one hyena had its jaws clamped tightly around his face, while another was locked onto his ankle.“One went for my leg and the other for my face and head. I fought them off by ripping my face and ankle free, then attacking the eyes of one and forcing my hand down the throat of the other,” Hohls told PEOPLE.
Hohls was attacked by two hyenasNicolas Hohls
“I had been asleep… when I realized what was happening, it was pure instinct. I knew I had to fight to survive.”Hohls explained that his reaction came instantly, describing the two key moves he made that ended up saving his life.“I reacted immediately. I ripped myself free and went straight for their weak points — the eyes and throat. It was all instinct and adrenaline,” he said.
The attack lasted around 60 secondsNicolas Hohls
The intense struggle lasted less than a minute, but it left Hohls badly injured. Hearing his cries, his father rushed to help, scooping him up and getting him to the hospital as fast as possible.“My dad jumped into action immediately. He found me in a pool of blood in my tent, put me in the car, and drove me straight to Ballito hospital,” he added.“I’ve camped at Vidal before without problems. That night I left a small gap for ventilation. If the hyenas wanted to get in, they would have found a way regardless, and that’s exactly what happened.”
The hyenas managed to enter through a small gap in the tentNicolas Hohls
Doctors treated Hohls with around 30 stitches across his head, hand, and cheek, while his ankle and thigh were left with deep, painful wounds.“I’m doing a lot better… The doctors are happy with my progress, and there’s been no sign of infection,” he explained.“For now, it’s about rest and allowing my body to heal properly.”
His father, Colin, recalled the horrific moment in detail, telling DailyMail.com: “I heard Nic go to bed then he suddenly started screaming clearly in agony and a hyena had grabbed his left leg and was pulling him out of the tent.”“A second hyena grabbed him by his head so Nick stuck his left hand into the first hyena’s mouth as deep as it would go and his right thumb in the other hyena’s eye.”“Nic said they both backed off in shock and then they heard me coming and must have seen the torch and disappeared and when I got there. I never even saw them.”
“It was all over in less than a minute but when I saw Nicolas he was covered in blood and I could hardly recognise him and there was a thick pool of his blood on the floor.”A spokesman for Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, which manages Cape Vidal, spoke to DailyMail.com, stressing: “We are going to catch the hyenas and work out the best way to proceed with them but in the mean time we ask all campers to make sure their tents are zipped up.”“In the incident at the weekend hyenas attacked a visitor after they had left their tent open following a party and in the previous attack a man nose was badly bitten.”
