'I cannot explain how frightening it was.' Archive photo
Photo: Reuters
Man mauled by chimp to get NIS 1 million
Rishon Lezion zoo worker viciously attacked in 1998 by monkey that had escaped its cage; man’s fingers, nose severed. Chimp killed by police officers dispatched to scene. Psychiatric evaluation presented top court states young man suffers from depression, recurring nightmares related to the incident
The Tel Aviv District Court ruled Wednesday that a 28-year-old man who was attacked by a chimpanzee will be compensated in the amount of NIS 1 million (USD 215,000).
The incident occurred in April 1998, when during his work at the “Hai Kef” zoo in Rishon Lezion the man was viciously attacked by a monkey that had escaped from its cage. Fingers from both of the man’s hands were severed, his nose was detached and he suffered from contusions to his face and buttocks.
Paramedics dispatched to the scene were unable to treat the worker as the chimp was running amok; only after police officers arrived and killed the monkey were they able to begin treating him.
'He grabbed me by the neck and bit my face'
The judge ordered that the Rishon Lezion Municipality, the Municipal Company and Clal Insurance pay the man NIS 1 million in compensation.
During the hearing the man described the incident: “The monkey bit me in the left leg first. I turned around and saw him; I cannot explain how frightening it was. I ran, fell and got up again and tried to shove him away with my hand – then he grinded my right hand with his mouth.
“He grabbed me by the neck and bit my face. I was so handsome; my life has been ruined,” the man said.
The court was also presented with a psychiatric evaluation stating that the young man suffers from depression and recurring nightmares related to the incident.
In determining the compensation sum the judge also took into consideration future plastic surgery procedures and treatment the man will have to undergo.
