SINGAPORE - The 44-year-old man attacked by a wild boar in Bukit Gombak last Thursday (Oct 19) is set to be discharged from hospital this Friday (Oct 27), after doctors have ensured his wounds are not at risk of being infected.
The man, Mr Michael Jin, suffered cuts and lacerations on both legs.
His condition has been stable after undergoing leg surgery on Monday, and he is grateful for the public's help during the incident, Mr Jin told The Straits Times on Wednesday (Oct 25).
The attack took place at the walkway just outside Glendale Park Condominium at 25, Hillview Avenue.
Mr Jin, who works as a patent lawyer, had just returned from a work trip in Germany.
His wife, 42-year-old housewife Salina Wang, told The Straits Times that he was on his way home after taking his five-year-old daughter to kindergarten when he saw the boar charging towards him.
"It was so unexpected that I couldn't even panic. I ran a few more meters before it knocked me down and bit my leg," he said.
A passerby used a stick to shoo the animal away, while another man stopped his car to help stem his bleeding by bandaging his wounds."I was so grateful that people were so helpful," Mr Jin said.
His wife, Ms Wang, heard the news from a neighbour, and rushed to the scene, frightened and anxious, according to the Lianhe Zaobao report on Wednesday.
"My husband took my hand and told me these words: Don't worry, it has already happened. He gave me power to stay calm that day," she told The Straits Times.
When the animal later tried to escape, it was hit by a passing bus and died. Mr Jin was taken to Ng Teng Fong General Hospital for treatment.
His wounds were cleansed every day to prevent infection, and he was given stitches on Monday (Oct 23).
His daughter and 12-year-old son kept him company on the first day he was in the hospital.
Mr Jin was visited by Chua Chu Kang GRC MP Low Yen Ling on Tuesday (Oct 24) as well. Ms Wang said she was grateful to Ms Low for checking in on the couple daily ever since the incident and for calming her down when Mr Jin was admitted.
Mr Jin added that he had not seen wild boars near his home before.
On Monday, the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore said that closed-circuit television cameras have been installed temporarily at a forested area behind HillV2 shopping mall and close to Hillview Rise to monitor the wild boar situation there.
