Teenager 'Very Lucky' To Survive Crocodile Attack In Zambia

A British teenager has said she is 'very, very lucky' to have survived a crocodile attack while on holiday in Zambia. She's seen speaking from her hospital bed here:

Amelie Osborn-Smith, 18, was left fighting for her life after the 10-foot reptile dragged her into a death roll as she swam with friends in the Zambezi river near the Victoria Falls.

Her dad, former Army Major Brent Osborn-Smith, explained how his daughter had been resting her leg over the side of the boat while she was white-water rafting.

It was there that the Nile crocodile clamped its jaws around her leg and dragged her into the water.

Speaking from her hospital bed in a video taken by Medland Hospital, Amelie said: “You don’t really think in that situation, obviously people say you see your life flash before your eyes or whatever but you don’t, you just think ‘how do I get out of this situation?’

“And your brain just goes into overdrive and you just think how to get out but I was just very, very lucky.

“When the accident happened I fully accepted the fact I was going to lose my foot and I accepted that and I’d said to all my friends, it’s fine, I’ve lost my foot, I’m still alive and then I was told my foot is fine and I’m going to be able to walk again and it’s such a relief.”

Her grandmother, who has been sleeping at her bedside, also said: "I was so grateful that I was allowed to stay with her because she has had continued flashbacks and terrible dreams at night. 

"Now it is better, but the first two or three days were bad."

Reports suggest that she was rescued by friends who punched the crocodile before dragging her back in a boat.

Brent said despite the horror of the situation, his daughter stayed 'calm and collected' when waiting for medical assistance on the boat and the crew were shocked because 'she didn't even shed a tear'.

She was flown by helicopter to an aid post in nearby Livingstone and then on to the capital Lusaka, 240 miles away, where surgeons managed to save her foot.