LABOURER Asgar Ally of Columbia village, Essequibo Coast recently sustained serious bites on his right leg by piranhas while cleaning an Aberdeen South drainage trench in that rice growing area.

Mr. Ally said that while he was in the trench cleaning and weeding the parapet he felt something grab his right leg, and that was followed by an acute and sustained pain. He said he tried to get out of the trench as quickly as possible, but felt another painful bite on the same injured leg as he attempted to climb onto the parapet.

Ally said the pain was so intense that he cried out for help, and was assisted by his wife, who was there with him and who took him to the Columbia Health Centre, where he was treated before going to the Suddie Hospital.

And while on the dam, he saw that parts of the flesh on his right leg were missing, and blood was oozing from two wounds, thus, he realised that the dangerous piranhas had attacked him.

He said he was wearing a three-quarter length pants while cleaning the trench. His right leg is currently bandaged.

(Rajendra Prabhulall in Essequibo.)