Another Chance at Life: Surviving a Wildebeest Attack

Could the life of a young boy depend simply on where he lives?

At FAME, we believe no one should lose access to lifesaving care because they live far from a city or alongside wildlife habitats. That is why support for the Trauma and Emergency Care Marathon is so critical.

Mosses, age 15, lives with his family in the Ngorongoro Crater, where communities share the land with abundant wildlife. One afternoon, while herding cattle with two friends, four wildebeest suddenly charged toward them.

In the chaos, Mosses fell — and a wildebeest hoof struck the right side of his chest.

His friends ran for help as neighbors rushed him to the nearest clinic. But his injuries were far too severe. He was struggling to breathe, with suspected internal bleeding, broken ribs and rapidly declining stability. He was urgently referred to FAME.

By the time he arrived around 7 p.m., the team knew every minute mattered. Mosses was taken directly into surgery, where FAME’s emergency and surgical teams spent hours fighting to save his life.

At 1 a.m., he was brought out of the operating room unconscious. Three hours later, he opened his eyes and quietly asked his mother where he was. “You are in the hospital,” she told him.

Recovery was slow. For days, he struggled to breathe and regain his strength. But little by little, he improved. After one week and four days in the hospital, Mosses walked out of FAME.

Weeks later, he returned to FAME to remove his stitches — fully recovered, back helping his family, playing football with friends and dreaming of becoming a hunter one day.

His mother later reflected on those terrifying hours and said, “When I arrived, his condition was very bad. But if he did not die on the operating table, he will not die now.”

This is the difference trauma and emergency care makes.

Because of supporters like you, a boy who nearly died in one of the most remote parts of Tanzania was given a second chance at life. Support FAME Marathon and help save more lives by ensuring continued access to trauma and emergency care services by clicking here.