Boy, 8, flown to US for rare facial surgery after surviving savage chimpanzee attack

A Congolese boy is undergoing rare facial reconstructive surgery in New York after he was attacked by wild chimpanzees in his home country.

Eight-year-old Dunia Sibomana escaped a brutal encounter when a group of chimpanzees swung down from the trees and set upon him, his younger brother and cousin, as they were playing near a preserve in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Dunia was the only child to survive.

His lips were torn off and one cheek was ripped apart causing serious muscle damage that makes it hard for the youngster to eat, swallow and communicate.

Rare facial op for boy attacked by chimp

The surgery will be carried out at Long Island hospital where surgeons will use tissue and muscle from his forearm to recreate both his lips.If successful, Dunia will be able to open and close his mouth, with full movement to eat and talk normally too.

Associate professor of dentistry at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, Dr. Leon Klempner said: "As you can imagine, not having any lips, the food can just come right out.

"He drools all the time and can't pronounce different words."

Non-profit organisation Smile Rescue for Kids helped Dunia travel to New York from Congo in November.

Surgery will begin next Monday with an eight-hour procedure, the first of three major operations.

Dr. Alexander Dagum, the chief of plastic and reconstructive surgery at the hospital, said he thinks there are only three other documented operations similar to Dunia's.

Long Island hospital has covered surgery costs and doctors have donated their time

All of the doctors have donated their time to the case and the hospital is covering the cost of the surgery and recovery.

After the attack two years ago, Dunia has been subject to bullying and has responded by becoming shy and withdrawn.

Since arriving in America he has attended elementary school and begun learning English while living with a host family on Long Island.