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Brit 'attacked by yak' near Mt Everest and is airlifted to hospital

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Emma Keen was left with a three-inch cut to her leg after the attack, while she was out with a group from south Wales who were trekking for different charities. (Image: Carl Marsh)
Emma Keen was left with a three-inch cut to her leg after the attack, while she was out with a group from south Wales who were trekking for different charities. (Image: Carl Marsh)

A brave charity fundraiser who was airlifted to hospital after being attacked by a yak carried on her mission to climb Mount Everest - despite her injuries.

Emma Keen was left with a three-inch cut to her leg after the attack, while she was out with a group from south Wales who were trekking for different charities.

She decided to take part in the charity trek to raise money for a charity very close to her heart - the Kidney Wales Foundation. She chose the charity because her mum Helen had polycystic kidneys and needed an urgent kidney transplant.

Emma said: "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 am doing this challenge is to give back to the charity what they have given my family, love, hope and life."

However, soon after Emma arrived at the trek, she was attacked by a yak and was bleeding heavily from a large hole in her leg. As she was drifting in and out of consciousness, she received emergency first aid from friends on the trek. Footage of the attack shows Emma was able to push the yak after the first attack which gave her enough time to get away before collapsing on the floor.

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Emma said: "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.

Brit 'attacked by yak' near Mt Everest and is airlifted to hospitalThe yak attacked Emma (Carl Marsh)
Brit 'attacked by yak' near Mt Everest and is airlifted to hospitalThe trekking group (Carl Marsh)

"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."

Yaks, also known as a grunting ox, are a type of of long-haired cow found throughout the Himalayan region. They rarely attack humans, but can be highly protective and charge if they think they are in danger, according to WalesOnline.

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 came 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.

She added: "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 and was raising money for Kidney Wales, 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 rejoined the group to finish the final few days of the trek on horseback, to reach her lifetime goal of getting to base-camp. 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).

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"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. "

To find out more about Emma's fundraising, click here. Carl's fundraising page for Velindre is here.

Cathy Owen

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