Against all odds: The remarkable recovery of a Sundarbans’ resident from a devastating tiger attack

Kolkata, 5^th September 2024: Some live to tell their tales, others become a feast of the predator lurking in the mangroves. In this continuous man vs. animal conflict, a rather unamusing part of the daily life for inhabitants of Sundarbans, growls an inspiring story of the defiance of human spirit marked by sheer determination to fight back the imminent danger, that emerged from the wilderness. Mr. Gour Mondal, a 54-year-old man from Sundarbans was brutally attacked by a tiger on the wee hours of August 17, 2024. He suffered an unprovoked severe assault that tore the right side of his neck leaving bite marks and bruises all over his face, with damage to the back of his skull. Showing defiance, Mondal caught hold of the face of the animal to avoid its further charge.

After the brutal attack, Mr. Mondal was quickly taken to a local hospital to treat his wounds before being referred and transferred to Kolkata for further treatment. Owing to the severity of his condition, he was immediately transferred to Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria, and a special team of doctors was ready to get him into the process of healing. The emergency team was alert and arranged a critical surgery to stabilize his condition.

On arriving at the hospital, Mr. Mondal received a complete diagnostic evaluation, including several CT scans. As the computed tomographic images revealed significant trauma like, comminuted fracture, which occurs when a bone is broken into three or more parts, at the base of the skull, around the occipital condyle, a cylindrical bone projecting in front and below the occipital bone at the base of the skull as well as styloid process at the base of his ear.

The fractures at such critical areas necessitated discussion regarding any potential damage, ranging from total paralysis to other neurological problems. The CT scan also revealed a comminuted fracture of the right cheek bone, which further compounded extensive risk to his facial structure and function. Mr. Mondal underwent a complex operation that involved posterior cervical decompression to alleviate pressure on the local veins and spinal cord compression besides removing 17 bony fragments and bone dust. Dr. Nirup Datta, Consultant Neurosurgeon at Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria, led the surgical team.

The operation, which lasted for more than three hours, marked just the beginning of a long and arduous process to recovery. Post surgery, Mr. Mondal was transferred to ITU where he was on ventilatory support. He was prescribed cerebral decongestants and pain relief drugs, as well as antibiotics, to ensure faster healing. As he regained consciousness and his health started showing signs of improvement, he was first moved to HDU and subsequently to the general ward. His recovery at a steady pace under the expert care of multiple specialists from Manipal Hospitals, included Dr. Sayan Chakraborty, Consultant, Department of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Biswarup Mukherjee, Consultant, Department of ENT Surgery, Dr. Kamal Sinha, Consultant, Department of Physical Medicine, Dr. Kaushik Mukherjee, Consultant, Department of CTVS Surgery), and Dr. Suman Das, Consultant, Department of Maxillofacial Surgery.

Dr. Nirup Datta, Consultant Neurosurgeon, at Manipal Hospitals, Dhakuria, said, “We were astounded by the degree of Mr. Mondal's injuries. The tiger attack caused multiple fractures and unparalleled damage to the structure and function of his face, which could have also led to neurological impairment. In order to better understand the complexity of the fragments of bones and their effects on surrounding tissues, a 3D reconstruction of the CT images was made. This gave the surgical team a clear idea about planning out the operations with precision. Our team at Manipal Hospitals worked tirelessly to ensure the best possible outcome.”

Reliving the nightmare, Mr. Gour Mondal stated, “I was on a fishing boat when the tiger suddenly attacked out of nowhere. It knocked me off balance, causing me to fall into the water. However, not once did I stop fighting, which perhaps scared the tiger. When my two companions rushed to my aid and joined the fight, the tiger finally left the spot. I was rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to Manipal Hospital, Dhakuria. I count myself blessed to get my life back. Although hard, the recovery has made me grateful to the doctors and staff at Manipal Hospitals. Their assistance and care brought me back from the brink of death.”

By the time of his discharge on 30th August 2024, he was hemodynamically stable, fully conscious, oriented, and was able to move all four limbs and muscles without any assistance. As he returns home, Mr. Mondal will continue to undergo follow-up consultations to monitor his progress, ensuring that his journey back to normal life continues smoothly.