'There was nothing I could do, it was so strong': Boy, 12, describes being pulled off staircase by 13-ft crocodile while playing hide-and-seek at Club Med in Cancun: Nearly lost his leg, but is now dressing up as a croc for Halloween

  • Philadelphia boy Charlie Buhl, 12, has spoken out after he was attacked by a 13-foot crocodile on a staircase at a Club Med resort in Cancun in June 
  • Buhl was hiding on a set of wooden steps leading to a lagoon from the pool deck during a game of hide-and-seek that was organized by the resort 
  • His leg had been seized on the staircase and dragged by the crocodile twice into the water 
  • A group of male resort workers came to Buhl's rescue after the crocodile had grabbed his leg
  • He was taken to a local hospital and was found to have serious injuries with the high possibility of losing his leg
  • Buhl, however, managed to keep the leg after undergoing surgery which included stapling an open skin flap
  • Club Med has covered Buhl's medical bills and has increased security around the lagoon area at the resort 

A 12 year-old boy has shared his horror at being pounced on by a huge crocodile which sunk its fangs into his leg as he played an organized game of hide-and-seek at a Mexican holiday resort.   

Charlie Buhl, of Philadelphia, was hiding on a set of wooden steps leading to a lagoon from the pool deck at Club Med Cancun resort on June 18 when he was attacked by the 13 foot reptile.

ADVERTISEMENT

His leg had been seized by the massive reptile on the staircase and dragged twice into the water.  

Resort workers rushed to the scene where they forcibly kicked the crocodile off of the young boy's leg and brought him to safety. Charlie was warned by doctors that his leg wounds - which became infected - were so severe that he faced losing the limb.  

But he is now recovering after surgery, and is now even planning to dress as a giant crocodile for Halloween.  

'There was nothing I could do, it was so strong,' Buhl said in a Wednesday interview with Good Morning America.

'I could feel like it almost pricking the inside of my leg,' he said. 'Like someone was digging their nails into your arm.'

'The workers helped pull me out and they were kicking the crocodile's eyes and putting a blue (pool) pillow on its head and then it let go and they like put me on the ground,' Charlie said of the rescue.

Buhl was taken to a local hospital where he underwent four weeks of surgery which included stapling an open skin flap
The crocodile had pulled on Buhl's leg while he was hiding on a staircase that led to the lagoon from the pool deck (file photo)

Buhl was taken to a local hospital where he underwent four weeks of medical procedures.

Despite initially being told he might lose his leg, he has been stapled up and is continuing his recovery from the terrifying incident.

His mother Jennifer Buhl, 50, told DailyMail.com that her son is still running and walking with a limp and has shooting pains down his leg every day. 

She also said that her son is a star soccer player and has yet to return to the field due to his injuries.  

ADVERTISEMENT

Buhl had been staying at the resort with his mother and younger brother Johnny, seven, at the time.

His mother said her son's screams had alerted someone near the scene which prompted a group of male workers to rush to the boy's aid.

 After being taken to the hospital, his mother was told that his injuries were found to be extremely serious and it was very likely that he was going to lose his leg, which was infected with bacteria.

Charlie's injuries were initially said to be extremely serious
He faced the possibility of losing his leg due to the amount of bacteria from the crocodile bite

The young boy, however, managed to keep his leg after undergoing surgery which included stapling an open skin flap.    

Club Med Cancun covered Buhl's medical bills and has since heightened the resort's security to avoid any further incidents. 

'I think Club Med has acted really honorably and really responsibly,' Jennifer Buhl also said in the interview.

'They immediately closed off the area, put a guard there 24/7, put up signs and lights...'

The resort was said to have no locks or warning signs on the gate leading to the lagoon prior to Charlie's attack. 

Club Med has since released a statement to PEOPLE in response to the accident at their resort.   

Club Med has since released a statement on the incident and described their new enforced security measures

'The safety and security of our guests and staff is our highest priority,' a spokesperson for the resort said.

'Club Med Cancún has reinforced the area around the lagoon by increasing the number of signs, lighting and installing taller fencing to further protect the safety of our guests and staff from the surrounding lagoon.

'Existing warning signs in various locations at the resort have been expanded and increased to warn of the presence and potential danger of wildlife in the lagoon, including crocodiles.

ADVERTISEMENT

'Club Med met with government officials and environmental ministries to voice concerns about the ongoing management of protected natural lagoons.

'Club Med reviews all of its safety protocols regularly and continues to assess if additional measures need to be taken.'

Charlie returned to his Philadelphia home in July and is now planning his Halloween costume which, of course, happens to be a 16 foot long crocodile.

'For Halloween, me and two of my friends are building this giant crocodile that all three of us are going to fit in and it's 16 feet long and they think it's cool,' he said.

In addition, Jennifer Buhl has continued to warn others about the dangers of crocodiles, especially in Cancun.

Buhl also said that she had learned of a nest of crocodiles that existed underneath the pool at the resort.   

This is also not the first crocodile attack to occur in Mexico over the summer.  

California teen Kianna Hummel, 18, had previously been attacked in July at a resort in Puerto Vallarta after a crocodile grabbed her by the leg during a late night swim in the ocean.

'I just started hitting it as hard as I could and then it kept just taking me under the water,' Hummel had said as she sat in her hospital bed.

Hummel had suffered severe muscle and tissue damage to her legs following the attack on the beach.      

Most Read News

Primary school teacher, 50, pretended she had COVID after killing cheating boyfriend during sex game...

'Boy in the attic's' mom's harrowing final words before she died of a broken heart are revealed - as...

Housing crisis laid bare as couple turn disused bus stop into a temporary home - as furious...

Stomach-churning moment sewage overflows from mother's toilet - leaving her with a £30,000 bill and...

Tragedy as five migrants die crossing Channel trying to reach Britain - hours after Rwanda law...

Royal fans are left disappointed by no new picture of Prince Louis as he turns six, as William and...

Rebel Wilson says member of the royal family who was '15th or 20th in line to the throne' invited...

Paedophile TV weatherman Fred Talbot who abused young boys is seen shopping at Waitrose after being...

Family of young person at the centre of Huw Edwards BBC scandal vow 'this is not the end' as they...

Has the Rainey Street ripper struck again? Fresh fears of Texas serial killer as two more bodies are...

Family pay tribute to 'incredible mother and cherished daughter' who was found dead at luxury...

Turkish dental surgeon screwed tooth implant into father's BRAIN cavity in horrific blunder - then...

Helicopter mid-air crash kills ten: Horrifying moment military aircrafts' rotor blades clip each...

TOM BOWER: The dam of silence on Meghan's 'bullying' at the Palace has finally broken. This trickle...

Yobs armed with catapults terrorise a quiet Surrey village - and have even targeted a FUNERAL in...

Aldi issues fresh warning to shoppers as product is urgently recalled from stores amid police probe...