Video: Woman risks life to save burnt koala from Australia bushfire – “I knew if we didn’t get him down from the tree, then he would have been up there amongst the flames”
By Eric Todisco
20 November 2019
(People) – Amid the raging bushfires in South Wales, Australia, a hero emerged to save the life of a young koala. [Warning: Desdemona has a pretty thick skin when it comes to doom, but this video made me weep like a child. –Des]
The dramatic rescue was caught on video. The clip shows the koala crossing the street and heading towards a group of burning trees; the animal is quickly followed by Toni Doherty – an Australian woman who spotted the koala and instantly jumped into action.
Doherty ran into the woods from her car and immediately wrapped the koala in the shirt off her back. After getting the marsupial to safety, she poured water all over the koala to cool its burns.
“He just went straight into the flames, and I just jumped out of the car and went straight to him,” Doherty told Australia’s Nine News.
Doherty took the koala — whom she named Lewis after one of her grandkids — to Port Macquarie Koala Hospital, the outlet reported.
On Wednesday, Doherty reunited with Lewis in the hospital. She told Australia’s Nine News that she did not think twice about the rescue.
“Just natural instinct,” she said. “I knew if we didn’t get him down from the tree, then he would have been up there amongst the flames.”
A spokesperson from the hospital told the outlet that Lewis remains in serious condition and “is probably 50-50 at this stage.”
“His feet are completely burnt and he has burns to his chest and stomach,” the spokesperson said. “He has been bandaged and given antibiotics but will take a lot of looking after, if he pulls through.” [more]
Woman Risks Life to Save Burnt Koala from Australian Bushfire: It Was ‘Just Natural Instinct’
