Claire Bye was swimming while on a guided tour when she was attacked by a pink river dolphin
A British woman on the holiday of a lifetime was left fighting for her life after she was attacked by a dolphin during a wild swim.
After four days her health went downhill as she battled a potentially life-threatening infection and doctors advised she be flown to La Paz, the capital of Bolivia for further treatment. Claire had to wait another two weeks before she could fly home to the UK following a surgical clean to treat the infection and remove the dead tissue.
"It felt like it had me for 15 minutes, but apparently it was about 20 seconds before it let go and swam away. After the attack, I was taken to a tiny local hospital that was nothing like the hospitals we have. The group stopped at the river and spent time swimming and playing with the wild pink river dolphins. Claire said: "There were mostly children swimming in the water with the dolphins.
"The people on the pontoon tried to help pull me up, but I couldn't move because the dolphin wasn't letting go." The aquatic mammal eventually released her foot, allowing her to climb out of the water to safety. "There was an ants' nest in the bathroom and there were no mosquito nets." Due to the severe lack of medical facilities in the area, Claire was transferred to Rurrenabaque, Bolivia - a four-hour drive away.
The 28-year-old who is currently unable to work due to her injuries said: "After the surgery, I basically had a huge hole in my foot. I spent two weeks in hospital in La Paz before I was able to fly home to the UK. By the time I eventually returned home, I went straight to A&E and was told I had another infection.
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