21 May 2023 , 23:14
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A mum has spoken of how she was left paralysed after she tried to save her baby from being killed by a charging giraffe.
Nicole Panos, 25, and her family were subjected to the horrifying animal attack at Kuleni Game Park in their native South Africa back in October.
As they made their way back from a relaxing morning in the sun, the giraffe - which she believes was trying to protect its young - suddenly ran at them at high speed, giving her only seconds to rescue her imperilled son and daughter.
While four-year-old Kayden survived after suffering skull fractures, Nicole was put through the agony of losing her one-year-old Kaia, who she had been carrying in her arms.
Nicole Panos, 25, lost her one-year-old daughter Kaia when the giraffe suddenly charged at them (Facebook)Her baby had sustained a traumatic head injury.
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Speaking about the ordeal to The Sun, Nicole says her life "completely shattered the day Kaia died" - and recalled the terrifying moment she realised they were under attack while en-route to her parent's house.
She said she turned around after hearing a loud noise in the park to see the huge giraffe "coming at us" with its head down, prompting her to scream at Kaia to run away as she dashed frantically with Kaia in her arms.
After being knocked to the ground unconscious, Nicole awoke to see the giraffe heading straight for Kayden - but found herself unable to move and help him.
Passing out again, she awoke briefly to see her mum holding little Kaia, but would only later learn that she had died.
Nicole has been left paralysed from the waist down, and her family have started a fundraiser for the family's medical treatment (Facebook)Retelling the devastating moment she found out her daughter had died, she said: "I asked them to tell me the truth and we all broke down.
"From that point I have been in survival mode, and I probably will be for the rest of my life."
She added that while she and her family posed no threat to the giraffe or its calf, she understands that the animal's "instinct" to protect its children may have suddenly been triggered, resulting in the tragedy.
Nicole, who has been left paralysed from the waist down, also spoke of the arduous physical challenges she and her boy have been put through in the aftermath.
After spending more than three weeks in hospital and 16 days in intensive care with multiple rib fractures and damage to internal organs, she is now facing multiple operations and a "long, challenging road to recovery ahead".
Kayden meanwhile needs constant monitoring due to the fractures in his skull, and the family finds themselves in "urgent need of additional funds to cover all the medical expenses".
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A GoFundMe page was set up to help Ms Panos and Kayden recover has so far raised more than $33,500 (£26,000) of its $120,000 (£96,300) goal.