Scott Baldwin on the moment he was bitten by a LION

Ospreys star Scott Baldwin has spoken candidly about the moment he was bitten by a lion – and how he felt like he was staring into the animal’s soul as it happened.

The Wales hooker was visiting a game park in Bloemfontein, South Africa, prior to Ospreys’ PRO14 game against the Cheetahs at the end of last month when the incident occurred. 

Baldwin, who has since undergone four operations to fix the gash on his left hand, returned to action recently, but the episode remains fresh in his mind. 

Scott Baldwin was bitten by a lion during a visit to a game park in South Africa last month

Wales hooker Baldwin posted pictures of his gruesome injury on social media on Sunday

Wales hooker Baldwin posted pictures of his gruesome injury on social media on Sunday

‘When you see the video it looks very quick,’ he told The Times. ‘But, for me, it felt like a lifetime, it felt like I was staring into the lion’s soul.

‘Thankfully, Clarkey [Allen Clarke, Ospreys’ defence coach] grabbed me around the waist and the lion let go. It was reassuring what Clarkey was telling me, he said the first thing he saw was that my hand was still attached and everything was going to be OK.’

Baldwin shared images of his gruesome injury on Twitter on Sunday, captioning the photo: ‘3 games missed, 4 ops later & not the result we wanted yesterday but good to be back out with the boys #Live&learn #LuckyEscape’.

He played with a bandaged hand during the narrow 36-34 defeat by Saracens in the Champions Cup on Saturday and admits that it was only recently that he realised just how fortunate he was not to suffer a more serious injury. 

‘I think it only hit me how lucky I was when I was in bed the other night,’ he added. 

‘When someone says you can lose your hand, instantly your career is gone. I am a new father, so you think about things you can do with your son, how you are going to earn money, so to speak, all those things go through your head.’ 

The Ospreys forward, pictured in action in January, has recently returned to action for his club

The Ospreys forward, pictured in action in January, has recently returned to action for his club

Wales international Baldwin insists he has learned his lesson after having four operations

Wales international Baldwin insists he has learned his lesson after having four operations

Although Baldwin did suffer with an infection, the lion’s bite caused no tendon or ligament damage, with one surgeon describing it as ‘the best possible outcome’.

However, the 29-year-old insists he has learned his lesson and will never again attempt to stroke one of the world’s most fierce creatures. 

‘Yes, I’ve learnt that if someone says you can put your hand in a lion’s cage, don’t listen to them,’ he said.

 

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