A 14-year-old boy is recovering after a harrowing attack by a rabid beaver while swimming in Cunningham Falls State Park in Maryland on July 29. Dominick Cebula sustained significant injuries to his chest and hands during the encounter, necessitating multiple surgeries and a series of rabies vaccinations.
According to reports, Cebula was underwater examining fish when he felt something latch onto his chest. His mother, Alishia Cebula, alerted him, but he was initially unable to hear her. Dominick's father, Jeff, described how his son fought to detach the animal, which locked onto him and began shaking its head. The boy eventually managed to pull the beaver off, but the animal attacked again, biting both of his hands as he defended himself.
Dominick told The Frederick News Post that one of the bites on his hand was so severe he initially thought amputation might be necessary, as the injury reached down to the bone. The beaver was captured, euthanized, and subsequently tested by Frederick County Animal Control, which confirmed it was rabid.
Following the attack, Dominick was airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He has undergone three surgeries to repair the bite wounds and severed nerves. A further surgery is planned to reattach a nerve in his right hand. His father indicated that significant tissue damage occurred to his son's chest.
Released from the hospital with his arms bandaged from hand to elbow, Dominick is experiencing numbness in parts of his hands and chest. His recovery is described as slow. Despite the ordeal, he has maintained a positive outlook, celebrating his 14th birthday and going on a family vacation shortly after the incident. He also began high school, reportedly with a memorable story to share.
Dominick's father expressed hope that his son will fully recover in time to participate in wrestling season, which begins in October at Walkersville High School. An aunt noted on a GoFundMe page established for his recovery that his wrestling training may have contributed to his ability to fight off the animal. The Daily Mail has reached out to Dominick's parents for further comment.
