Pig kills man in Belize

BELMOPAN, Belize, CMC - Police say they are investigating a case in which a pig is reported to have attacked an killed a 46-year-old man, who had been trying to prevent it from eating his plants.

"Investigations revealed that Anton Andrewin was at Gales Point when he went to chase a pig that was causing or eating his plants. The pig attacked him and he received an injury. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead," Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero, the regional commander of the Eastern Division told reporters.

Asked whether the owner of the pig might be in breach of the law, Romero replied "an investigation will be carried out and we will have the results at the end of the investigation".

Media reports said that on Sunday, the father of five, was in his yard, enjoying time with friends, when the hungry animal appeared.

He tried to move it away but the pig turned aggressive . Its tusk cut Andrewin's leg, severing an artery, which proved fatal.

Village chairman, Jason Altschaft, is urging animal owners to follow the law and prevent their pets from roaming freely since it is illegal for animals to wander in public spaces.

"When we had heard that he didn't make it, that's when I went back over to the family and I found out that they were chasing down the pig," Altschaft said, adding "I went back to go get my license firearm....(and) we put it down."

The media reports said that the pig's owner had moved out of the village earlier this year and that his pig became wild, searching for food.

The wife of the deceased, Michelle Andrewin, said at first she wasn't aware that the pig had injured her husband saying "when I look, he was there coming and the blood was running down...he had on a long pants, the blood was running on his leg."

"I was sitting here and we were having a conversation and laughing and everything, and then the pig came in the yard and was at the back of the yard over there. And he went after the pig and the dog went after the pig, and he went after the pig and it was not the first time that he get in contact with that pig. That pig hurt him more than once. He was like stoning the pig and the pig was aggressive," she recalled.

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