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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Abigail O'Leary

Woman bitten by ELEPHANT whose arm cracked inside its mouth during pic needs $10,000 surgery

A woman who had her arm cracked inside an elephant's mouth during a holiday photo opportunity says she has been left with a $10,000 medical bill.

Beth Bogar was on a bucket list trip to Bali, Indonesia, when she visited the Mason Elephant Park & Lodge resort.

Images show Beth, from New Hampshire, riding one of the majestic animals in a blue bikini shortly before the horror incident which left her with a broken arm.

Beth, who was accompanied by her husband Les, claims the elephant bit her while she stood alongside its trainer who was showing her how to pose for images.

Beth, who was accompanied by her husband Les, claims the elephant bit her while she stood alongside its trainer who was showing her how to pose for images (WMUR)

The holidaymaker said how she felt uncertain about "how close was too close" before saying her arm was then "sucked" inside the animal's mouth.

She told WMUR-TV: "I couldn't get my arm out.

"I could just hear cracking and I just started to panic."

Beth was rushed to hospital for urgent treatment which left her with a $10,000 bill as the trip came to a painful halt.

Beth riding the elephant moments before the accident (WMUR)

Describing the build up to the accident, Beth recalled: "When I was with my trainer, we did speak while I was riding, and he said he had been with the elephant for 24 years.

"He knew this elephant.

"I just feel as though he was guiding me and he let my arm get too close to his mouth and I didn't know how close too close was."

An x-ray of Beth's arm after emergency surgery (WMUR)

After being given pain relief by staff from the resort, Beth said her arm started to swell before she was rushed to hospital and into emergency surgery.

An x-ray later showed the areas surgeons had inserted plates and screws into her bones to help them fuse back together.

Beth, who doesn't blame the elephant for what happened, was left with the large bill, which the resort reportedly agreed to pay $4,800 as she warned travellers to be wary of what can go wrong on a similar trip to hers.

She added: "In a split second, your entire trip can really be changed, and not just your trip, but your entire life."

Mirror Online has approached Mason Elephant Park & Lodge for comment.

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