A 64-year-old French man was attacked by a lion that tore part of his arm off during a luxury safari with his wife in Tanzania — and is now suing the British company that organized the trip, according to a report.
Patrick Fourgeaud, 64, and his wife Brigitte, 63, awoke to the sight of the big cat in their tent in the Ruaha National Park in August 2015, the UK’s Metro reported.
The lion sniffed Brigitte before attacking her husband in the horrifying mauling, according to the outlet.
Patrick has undergone 10 surgeries to reconstruct his left arm and is expected to undergo additional operations in the near future, Metro reported.
The couple, from Mont-Saxonnex, France, claim holiday provider Africa Travel Resource failed in its duty to ensure the safety of its clients.
The company has denied all responsibility, according to the outlet.
The couple has been struggling with mental-health problems, Metro reported, with Brigitte suffering from depression and post-traumatic stress disorder.
“I will never forget that moment when I woke up to see the lion there. I thought we were both going to die. The attack will stay with me for the rest of my life,” she said.
“Nothing will change what we have been through, but we both believe that more could have been done to prevent what happened and we both want to ensure that this doesn’t happen to other holidaymakers again.”
The couple alleges that the company did not make sure there were physical barriers in place between the camp and wild animals.
They also claim there were no surveillance measures and precautions taken by their guide, according to Metro.
The couple’s attorney, Leane Shanks, said: “Four years on from this horrific attack, Patrick and Brigitte are still trying to come to terms with the ordeal they faced that night.
“Having always been passionate about seeing animals in the wild, and having been on several safaris in Africa in the past, they had booked this holiday to an area of Africa that they particularly loved,” Shanks said.
“Tour operators and holiday firms have a duty of care to ensure the safety of customers, and in this case we believe this did not happen.”
ATR told Metro: “The company cannot comment at this time as the matter is still subject to legal proceedings.”