Moray Eel Bites 10-Year-Old Girl in Eilat, Requiring Tendon Surgery
A 10-year-old girl named Shir suffered severe lacerations and a torn tendon in her foot after being bitten by a moray eel while swimming at Coral Beach in Eilat. The incident occurred on Wednesday, prompting an urgent transfer to Yoseftal Medical Center.
The powerful bite caused deep cuts and a complete tear in the extensor tendon of her big toe. Medical staff at Yoseftal thoroughly cleaned the wound, administered antibiotics to prevent marine infections, and immediately took her to surgery for a complex procedure to repair the damaged tendon.
Dr. Sergey Boykov, head of orthopedics at Yoseftal, who performed the surgery, stated that the girl was unable to move her toe before the operation. He successfully repaired the torn extensor tendon, aiming to prevent future functional impairment. He expressed optimism for a full recovery, noting that children generally heal well from such injuries.
The girl's mother shared her distress and issued a warning to other beachgoers, emphasizing the importance of wearing water shoes, especially near reefs. Dr. Naseef Assala, head of pediatrics at the hospital, advised that moray eels typically do not attack but noted that the risk increases near rocks and during evening hours. He recommended that swimmers avoid approaching marine animals and always wear water shoes when entering the sea.
Following the surgery, the girl is expected to make a full recovery.
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