JELI: It took over 10 years for a rubber tapper who survived a tiger attack in 2002 to get back on his feet and lead a normal life again.
Abdullah Mamat, 57, was attacked by a male tiger while working at a rubber plantation in Kampung Sungai Satan here. Since then, it has been a nightmare for him. He was not even able to step out of his house because of the trauma.
However, he recovered two years ago, and has since gone back to work.
"But I no longer work at the place where I was attacked 17 years ago because I fear the incident will happen again.
"My new place of work is about 45km from home. I will be there early in the morning and go home at about noon.
"Praise be to God, so far I have not spotted any tiger there," said the father of four when met.
Abdullah admitted the incident affected him deeply.
"The attack left a scar on my left face. Everytime my grandchildren come and visit me, they will ask what happened to me.
"I will tell them the story from start to end. They look at me in shocked disbelief," he joked.
Between 2000 and 2005, five people including three women were killed after being mauled by tigers in Kelantan.