Six-year-old boy is mauled by a raccoon while walking to school before hero neighbor steps in and beats the animal to death

New Jersey boy mauled by raccoon while walking to school

Aryan Gavali was bitten and scratched in the face by a large raccoon in Elmwood Park, New Jersey
Neighbor Danny Walls saved the six-year-old by grabbing a pole and beating the animal to death
Aryan suffered deep cuts to his face that required nine stitches
Dead raccoon was taken to a lab to be tested for rabies

A six-year-old New Jersey boy was mauled by a raccoon while walking to school with his mother, who said her son could have died if it weren't for a heroic neighbor who came to his rescue.

Aryan Gavali had to get nine stitches on his face after the vicious animal attack that took place in Elmwood Park Wednesday morning.

The child was on his way to the 16th Avenue Elementary School with his mother, Monali Gavali, when a large raccoon attacked him from behind and proceeded to bite and scratch him in the face.

Scroll down for video

Lucky to be alive: Aryan Gavali, six, pictured left and right with his mother, required nine stitches to his face after being mauled by a raccoon in New Jersey. The attack occurred as the boy was walking to school

Dangerous varmint: The carcass of the dead animal was later taken to a lab to be tested for rabies

‘Within a second, he screamed, “Mommy,” then I turn around and saw that he was on the ground... something was there, something was on his back,' Ms Gavali described the incident to NBC New York.

Elmwood Park resident Danny Walls was getting ready for work when he heard the mother screaming for help outside his window.

Seeing the massive racoon clawing at Aryan's face, the quick-thinking Good Samaritan grabbed a painter's pole from his car and started beating the varmint until it let go of the child and died.

Walls described a harrowing scene in the wake of the attack, with little Aryan screaming in terror and blood streaming from his wounds.

‘He had rips on his face,’ Danny's wife, Diana Walls said of the grade-schooler. 'Not just cuts, rips.'

Hero: Neighbor Danny Walls rescued Aryan by grabbing a painter's pole and whacking the raccoon until it died

This image shows Walls recreating how he struck the animal until it let go of the six-year-old boy

After profusely thanking the fearless neighbor for saving her son's life, Monali Gavali rushed Aryan to Hackensack Medical Center to be treated for his injuries.

Speaking from her son's bedside via video chat Wednesday night, Ms Gavali called Walls her 'angel,' reported CBS2.

The bloody carcass of the raccoon that attacked Aryan was taken to a lab to be tested for rabies. The results are expected on Friday.

RABIES: A BITE THAT ALWAYS KILLS IF LEFT UNTREATED

Rabies is a viral infection which targets the nervous system and the brain.

It is deadly in 100 percent of cases if left untreated.

It is only spread by infected animals to humans, most often through the animal biting or scratching the person.

It can also be spread by an animal's saliva being in contact with a graze or cut on a human's skin.

The majority of rabies cases result from being bitten by an infected dog.

The symptoms of the illness include high temperatures, numbness at the area where the bite occurred and hallucinations.

Some victims also have hydrophobia, which is a fear of water.

Comment

You need to be a member of CaribbeanFever / FeverEyes / CaribFever to add comments!

Join CaribbeanFever / FeverEyes / CaribFever

Comment by Eddie elie on January 28, 2016 at 11:06pm: It must of had rabies , raccoons don't attack humans unless cornered

Comment by Dave on January 28, 2016 at 1:42pm: Strange behavior for a racoon, check for rabies.

Comment by Cee Gee on January 28, 2016 at 12:52pm: Bendito....speedy recovery to the little boy. Glad his neighbor came when he did. Raccoons are dangerous!