Fla. Woman Dies After Camel Sits on Her
Pastor Dale Morgan
Apr 24, 9:46 PM EDT
*Fla. Woman Dies After Camel Sits on Her*
WEWAHITCHKA, Fla. (AP) -- An owner of an exotic animal farm has died
after being kicked and then sat on by a camel. Cathie Ake and the
4-year-old camel were being filmed by a local television station on
Sunday when the camel kicked her and then sat down during a break in
filming.
The station was doing a story on Mini-Akers Exotic Animals, the 15-acre
farm Ake owned with her husband.
Cathie Ake's husband, Donnie Ake, said he would find a new home for
Polo, the camel, The News Herald of Panama City reported Tuesday. He
believes the 1,800-pound animal was agitated by mating season.
The couple bought the camel at an auction three weeks ago and kept him
in a 50 foot by 80 foot pen.
"My wife did a lot of rescue," Donnie Ake said. "She wouldn't let an
animal suffer.
"We might not have food in the house, but she made sure they had
something to eat."
A reporter called 9-1-1 when Ake fell under the camel.
"To be honest with you, I don't think there's much that she could have
done," said Gulf County Sheriff Dalton Upchurch.
A deputy and paramedics moved the camel and recovered Cathie Ake's body.
Donnie Ake said he believes his wife either suffocated or was crushed by
the animal. The Akes started their exotic animal farm nearly 10 years ago.