Man killed by pig in Belize, police probe owner’s liability
BELMOPAN, Belize, (CMC) – Police say they are investigating a case in which a pig is reported to have attacked and 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 eating his plants. The pig attacked him and he received an injury. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead,” Belizean Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero told reporters.
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 became aggressive. Its tusk cut Andrewin’s leg, severing an artery, which proved fatal.
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”.
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. Media reports said that the pig’s owner had moved out of the village earlier this year and that his animal 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, “He was 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— the dog went after the pig, and he went after the pig; it was not the first time that he got 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.
“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.”
