Doctors say Ohio zoo trainer’s lungs punctured in elephant attack but full recovery expected

Zoo trainer’s lungs punctured in elephant attack

TOLEDO, Ohio — Doctors say a trainer attacked by an elephant at Ohio’s Toledo Zoo suffered life-threatening lung injuries and is on a ventilator.

However, doctors at the University of Toledo Medical Center say they expect 53-year-old Don RedFox to recover fully from last week’s encounter with an elephant named Louie.

Dr. Kris Brickman, the emergency department director, said Tuesday that RedFox is likely to remain hospitalized for weeks and that complications are possible.

Brickman says RedFox is in critical but stable condition with fractured ribs and punctured lungs. He is heavily sedated.

The zoo is investigating why Louie pushed down RedFox, the zoo’s elephant manager.