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WHAT IT'S LIKE // TO SURVIVE A LION ATTACK
> We know you're curious.
My family and I are visiting a private farm for a barbecue. Loads of people are at the farm that day. Also at the farm are five male lions the owners keep in a fenced-in area, so of course I go out with this girl to see them. We sit down about a yard away from the fence.
We see one lion come over and sit in front of us, right on the other side of the fence. It's chilling. What we don't see is that standing water has rusted out the bottom part of the fence, making it weak. The Lion, however, knows this. Suddenly a paw that would dwarf a man's hand slings toward me under the fence. His nails land deep in my ankle, pulling me in. At first I think I can unhook them, but the nails are an inch deep; it's just not possible. As the first lion pulls and my knees drag through the rusty fence, a second lion approaches and bites down into my calf. I yell at this girl to call for my parents; I know I'm not breaking free. The fence now scrapes past my hips as the third lion's teeth clench into my upper thigh. His strength adds enough force to pull me inside the fenced-in area.
I'm no expert on big cats, but I know enough to immediately turn onto my stomach, covering my neck and face. And then, for whatever reason, two of the lions walk off, leaving just me and the dominant male, the one who first pulled me in. With his claws still in my ankle, he yanks me across the thick brush another 10 or 15 yards. I slowly realize they aren't hungry; they're possessive, claiming me as theirs. Were they hungry, I wouldn't have made it this far.
I decide to play dead. The thing with lions is
that if you kick them, it triggers the same predatory instinct that struggling prey does. You can't scream either; their prey screams too. I lie there for minutes that feel like eternities.
People say that during a near-death experience you see your entire life flash before you, and I've always thought that was bullshit. But it's true. I see myself growing up. I see myself playing rugby for the first time. Everything.
I notice the dominant lion left me, charging toward the other two. With a strange calm, I think to myself, this is it. This is my time. I manage to stand up, but the dominant lion notices. He reels back on his hind legs and gives me a swipe. In doing so, one of his nails plunges deeply into my chest, in and out. I later find out the nail missed my aorta by a millimeter. I fall back to the ground.
Dominant leaves me again for the other two. This time I grab a nearby stick. I back up to the fence, and as he notices I start swinging, keeping him a yard away. Further down the fence was the gate, my best chance for escape. I slowly slide toward it, swinging at the beast. By the time I reach the gate, everyone has arrived. The owner has a huge ring of keys. Luckily, the first key he tries works. The gate slides open and I'm pulled through.
By this point I've lost so much blood that I'm seeing in black and white, standing only on pure adrenaline. I look down at what was once my calf and see only a chunk of hanging meat. I stop surveying my wounds. The last thing I need is to faint.
// BY DANE KIESER
AS TOLD TO JOSH HAFNER
I SLOWLY REALIZE THEY AREN'T HUNGRY;THEY'RE POSSESSIVE, CLAIMING ME AS THEIRS.WERE THEY HUNGRY, IWOULDN'T HAVE MADE IT THIS FAR.
Contributed Photo
All smiles: Dane Kieser, who moved to Lawrence six months ago to play rugby for the mens team, in his hometown of Johannesburg, South Africa.
> Dane Kieser
On why he thinks he survived the lion attack.
Contributed Photo
Contributed from Survivors tale: Dane Kieser, in the hospital after the attack, has a photograph taken of his wounds.
WESCOE WIT > Lol.
nave you overheard any Wescoe witticisms? Become a fan on Facebook and your post could be published in Jayplay!
GUY: If I don't get grandma's cookies, I'm going to go on a homicidal rampage.
GUY: I don't know what I'm going to do about getting a job... all signs point to career fair.
GUY: I'm giving up emoticons for Lent.
PROFESSOR: I have a good cock block
GIRL 1: It smells like a cough drop.
GIRL 2: It smells like my life's a joke.
GIRL 3: It smells like teen spirit.
GUY! It's not as bad as when your roommate walks in with his parents and you're standing there naked.
GIRL: Golden arches: it's a lifestyle.
PROFESSOR: I am going to dropkick the first person who pinches me for not wearing green.
PROFESSOR: I guess I should make a resume if I'm going to graduate in two months.
// SARAH CHAMP
Within the next couple of months, students can expect to see construction beginning on 12th Street between Louisiana to Vermont streets because the Oread Neighborhood Lighting Project will finally be executed.
Phase two, which includes 10-foot decorative light poles in South Park, will commence as soon as the materials are delivered.
pleted pretty soon," Thiel said. "It's a matter of scheduling. My guess is they will wait until class is out and after graduation, so it's the least inconvenient to students."
Additional funds that were needed from the Community Development Block Grant went through, so the final phases of the
Phase one has been contracted and workers are busy completing other projects before beginning
and Tennessee streets and 12th and Kentucky streets. Both phases should be completed before the end of the year. Thiel said, with the possibility that phase four will continue until 2012.
Phases three and four include the installation of lights along 12th Street between Louisiana
The project will help increase safety for students and community members who travel along that pathway.
According to Mark Tnel, assistant director of Public Works for the city of Lawrence, the project will be broken down into four phases. The first phase will include construction on the sidewalk of 12th Street between Louisiana and Vermont streets to comply with handicap standards of the Americans with Disabilities Act.
SEE LIGHT ON PAGE 3A
Oread Neighborhood Lighting Project
Forecasts by University students. For a complete detailed forecast for the week, see page 2A All contents, unless stated otherwise, © 2011 The University Daily Kansan
With the economic inflation and more students taking the bus, the University's parking and transit revenues are decreasing, leading it to make up for the lost revenue in some way.
Students planning on buying a KU parking pass for the next school year could be in for an unpleasant surprise. The parking and transit department at the University is considering a parking fee increase around campus.
"The parking and transit department is completely user funded," Donna Hultine, University director of parking and transit, said. "So we really rely on the revenue streams of parking permits, tickets, garage revenue and events."
TO:
PARKING & TRANSIT DEPARTMENT
UNIVERSITY OF KANASAS
1501 IRVING HILL ROAD
LAWRENCE, KANASA 68045-7006
Although nothing has been decided upon yet, the department has submitted different budgets to the provost's office. One of the budgets involving the red zone includes a percentage increase on various things like parking permits, fines.
SEE FEES ON PAGE 3A
BY LAURA THOMAS lthomas@kansan.com
CRIME|3A
Two campus crimes occur during break
Only cases of a stolen bicycle and some ill-placed graffiti stirred the spring break silence.
TICKETS | 3A
Check out Kansan.com for more information about the potential increases in parking for the 2011- 2012 school year.
One more sentenced in ticket scandal
Former athletics department employees now face steep fines and years of jail time.
SOFTBALL | 8A
Jayhawks prepare to fight for first Big 12 victory against Huskers today
After recent losses to No. 11 Missouri and No. 8 Texas, and a split doubleheader against UKMC, Kansas turns its attention to Big 12 play in its upcoming game against No. 16 Nebraska.
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