Teen girl dies after shielding younger cousins from king cobra attack
A heroic 14-year-old girl died due to a snake bite after shielding her younger cousins from a king cobra in Sarangani Province, Philippines.
The girl, identified as Buding, was swimming with her three young cousins in a river on Monday (13 July) when the incident occurred.
Her family tried to rush her to a medical facility for treatment, but it was too late.
Snake was aiming for younger children
According to the Inquirer, the cousins were swimming when the snake suddenly appeared.
While it headed towards the three younger kids, Buding did not run to save herself.
Instead, she quickly hugged her younger cousins to shield them from the reptile.
As a result, she was bitten by the king cobra on her lower back.
Source: Bicol TV Sorsogon on Facebook
Family rushes girl to hospital
After the incident, Buding was able to return home to tell her family what had happened.
“When they arrived home, she said: ‘Uncle, this is what happened…I was bitten by a snake that was aiming to attack the three younger kids‘,” the victim’s uncle told GMA News.
The victim’s sister also believed that if Buding hadn’t sacrificed herself, they would have lost the other kids.
They then tried to rush the girl to a medical facility, but she died before they could arrive.
Source: James Basquinez Reganit on Facebook
Teenage girl praised for selflessness
Many praised Buding for her courage and selflessness.
The mayor of Maitum town, James Reganit, visited the family to express his condolences and said the municipal government would “shoulder all funeral expenses”, the Inquirer reported.
Following the incident, authorities reminded the public to watch over children to prevent similar accidents, and advised that those who find themselves with a snake bite should seek medical attention promptly.
Also read: Stray dog in India hailed hero after sacrificing life to save schoolchildren from venomous snake
Stray dog in India hailed hero after sacrificing life to save schoolchildren from venomous snake
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Featured image adapted from Bicol TV Sorsogon on Facebook, James Basquinez Reganit on Facebook.
