Baby gets 50 stiches after monitor lizard attack

An eight-month-old baby girl received 50 stitches after being bitten in the face and head by a large monitor lizard after she was placed on the kitchen floor by her mother at their home in Pulau Tioman on Monday.

In the 10am incident at the Berjaya Resort workers' quarters, the infant, Nor Hidayah Abdul Rahman was reportedly left at the spot alone while her mother Noraudah Maisarah, 39, a housewife, was cooking porridge in the kitchen.

Rompin police chief, DSP Johari Jahaya said the monitor lizard appeared suddenly and attacked the baby girl.

"Seeing the gruesome condition, the woman saved her baby from the clutches of the reptile and chased it away," he told Bernama yesterday.

The victim's father, Abdul Rahman Ismail, 38, a maintenance worker at the resort who was at work then, was alerted of the incident before he lodged a police report.

Johari said the victim was later rushed to Mersing Hospital before being transferred to Sultanah Aminah Hospital (HSA) in Johor Baharu for further treatment.

"The Wildlife Department has been informed of the matter for further action," he said.

In JOHOR BAHARU, the baby was reported to be in stable condition after treatment at HSA.

Johor Health and Environment Committee chairman, Datuk Ayub Rahmat said doctors and nurses at HSA were monitoring the baby's condition.

"The baby is stable. She sustained injuries from scratches by the reptile on the face and doctors have cleaned and stitched the wounds.

"There were more than 50 stitches but doctors used the finest needle and thread. The wound is 8cm long above the left eyebrow in an 'L' shape.

"The hospital will continue to monitor the baby's condition as her wounds may be contaminated by bacteria," he said when contacted yesterday.

According to Ayub, the baby girl was awarded at HSA at 8.30pm Monday after a long journey from Mersing.