Hospital admits female lion

2010-03-24 10:13

Pieter-Louis Myburgh, Beeld

Johannesburg - A man visiting his wife in a Johannesburg hospital could hardly believe his eyes when he saw a full-grown lioness being wheeled in as a patient at the hospital. He immediately called a local radio station to tell them what was happening.

Life Hospital Group spokesperson Marietjie Shelly said a lion was brought to the Wilgeheuwel hospital in Roodepoort for an MRI scan of one of her paws on Tuesday morning.

"The lion broke her paw about a year ago. She underwent an operation, but not at one of our hospitals," said Shelley.

According to her, the lion belonged to a Free Sate game farm owner and there was no reason for other patients to be concerned.

No risk

"The lion was sedated when she arrived at the hospital. She also posed no health risk for patients as all equipment is sterilised."

Richard Disley, who on Tuesday visited his wife in the hospital, was so surprised to see how the lioness was admitted to hospital that he immediately called Talk Radio 702.

"I was in the parking lot when I saw a large van. A nurse with a hospital trolley stood next to the vehicle.

"Suddenly, with the help of others, she loaded the lion onto the trolley after which she simply pushed the animal into the X-ray section," Disley said.

Wilgeheuwel hospital spokesperson Glynis Krebser said on Tuesday the lion's visit was an unusual event at the hospital.

- Beeld