The mother of a one-year-old girl killed by a charging giraffe last year was also left paralysed from the waist down as she tried to shield her children.
Nicole Panos, 25, tried to save toddler Kaia after they were charged at by the animal in South Africa in October.
Her four-year-old son Kayden suffered skull fractures in the tragic incident, in the Kuleni Game Park, but survived after curling up in a ball in the sand.
Sadly one-year-old Kaia died as a result of a traumatic head injury. The heartbroken mother was holding her in her arms.
Speaking for the first time, Ms Panos told The Sun her world ‘completely shattered the day Kaia died’.
Nicole Panos, 25, tried to save toddler Kaia (both pictured) after they were charged at by the animal in South Africa in October
Ms Panos was parlysed from the waist down in the attack. She spent more than three weeks in hospital, 16 days in intensive care
The family believe the giraffe was protecting a calf.
Ms Panos said she felt confused as they hadn’t been threatening towards the animal.
But as a mother Ms Panos said she understands the ‘instinct that kicks in to protect your children’.
‘My last thought before she charged at us was that of worry, ‘Where is her baby?’, but she took mine from me,’ she added.
Ms Panos and her husband Jason live at the family-run luxury game park with their children. It is a popular holiday destination.
She worked at the nature training business as a marine facilitator, student mentor and aspiring birth doula.
That tragic day, Ms Panos had been due to met a student and arranged for her children to stay with their grandparents.
After a relaxing morning laying with her children, she left her house to walk them the short distance to her parents’ home.
In the distance, Ms Panos saw a male and female giraffe. However, she could not see the animals’ calf.
The female giraffe was watching the family, but Ms Panos said this was not unusual as she was often curious. She did however think it strange that the calf was not there.
‘I was carrying Kaia in my arms, Kayden was walking ahead of me,’ she said.
‘Suddenly, I heard this noise behind us and I turned around – and I saw her coming at us.’
Ms Panos said the animal’s head was down and she was headed straight for them, ‘running really fast’.
She screamed at her son Kayden to run, while Kaia was in her arms, before feeling a thud on her back and being knocked unconscious.
Ms Panos awoke to see the giraffe heading for Kayden but she could not move to help him.
Again she passed out and when she woke up, her mother was holding little Kaia. She thought both children were alive before again blacking out.
Her four-year-old son Kayden (left) suffered skull fractures in the tragic incident, in the Kuleni Game Park, but survived after curling up in a ball in the sand
The children were rushed for urgent medical care – Kayden was sent to hospital while Kaia went to a local doctor. Kaia died there in her grandfather’s arms.
Ms Panos’s spinal injuries meant she had to wait for four hours before being airlifted to hospital. Her family tried to keep the tragic news of Kaia’s death from her until after her surgery but Ms Panos’s motherly instincts new.
‘I asked them to tell me the truth and we all broke down,’ she said. ‘From that point I have been in survival mode, and I probably will be for the rest of my life.’
Kayden has struggled with the loss of his sister, as Ms Panos says he would go and ‘greet her every morning with this huge hug’.
Ms Panos was in hospital for more than three weeks, 16 days of which were in intensive care. As well as being paralysed she had multiple rib fractures and damage to internal organs.
Of her daughter, Ms Panos said: ‘She was the most wonderful, funny, beautiful soul, who loved everything and everyone. She loved life.
‘She felt, and still feels, like sunshine. She radiated happiness.’
A GoFundMe page was set up to help Ms Panos and Kayden recover. It has so far raised more than $33,000.
