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Wales hooker Scott Baldwin explains 'lucky escape' after lion bite

Rugby, Guinness PRO12

Wales hooker Scott Baldwin was told escaping serious injury following an encounter with a lion in South Africa was "like winning the lottery".

Baldwin, 29, was bitten while stroking the lion at a game park in Bloemfontein prior to Ospreys' Guinness PRO14 game against the Cheetahs at the end of last month.

"The bite went straight through the other side of the hand, but I was really lucky it didn't hit any tendons or ligaments," Baldwin told BBC Radio 5 live's Rugby Union Weekly podcast.

"The surgeon said it was like winning the lottery. He said it was the best possible outcome I could have had after being bitten by a lion."

The wound was initially stitched up but there were fears Baldwin could lose his hand as an infection set in.

"The infection was the major issue," he added. "The next day it started tracking up my arm. The surgeon said there was a chance I could lose my hand due to the infection.

"The first day our doctor cleaned it out and stitched it up. But the following day we went to the hospital after it had become infected.

"I had my first operation on the Thursday, second operation on the Friday, and then I was allowed to fly home Saturday on the understanding I had an IV [intravenous] drip and went straight to hospital when I got back.

"I was transferred to Morrison hospital in Swansea to see a plastic surgeon, and he cleaned it out once more.

"Because they had packed it with all stuff to stop the infection, my skin was so loose he didn't have to take a skin graft, so I was really fortunate there."

Coach Steve Tandy described Baldwin as "pretty stupid" following Ospreys' 44-25 defeat to the Cheetahs but he could have the player available for Saturday's Champions Cup game against Saracens.

"I've had the stitches out and hopefully will be back in training sometime in the coming week," said Baldwin.

"I'm hoping to be available for this week, if all things go well. But that's my thought process, I don't know about the coaches and medical teams, but that's what I've got in my head.

"Steve Tandy has said we just need to get past it now. It is what it is, we just need to move on now."

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