Father of Five Killed by Aggressive Wild Pig in Gales Point

A tragic incident occurred on Sunday afternoon in Gales Point Village where a father of five lost his life after confronting a wild pig. Anton Andrewin was in his yard, enjoying time with friends, when the hungry animal appeared. He tried to shoo it away, but the pig turned aggressive. Its tusk cut Andrewin’s leg, severing an artery, which proved fatal. Today, the village chairman, Jason Altschaft, is urging animal owners to follow the law and prevent their pets from roaming freely. It’s illegal for animals to wander in public spaces. In this case, the pig’s owner had a history of trouble; he was involved in a fatal stabbing incident back in January. After moving out of the village, his pig became wild, searching for food until Sunday when it fatally injured Andrewin. The pig was then put down. Marion Ali reports.

 

Michelle Andrewin, Wife of Deceased

“The pig charge the third time and he jump back and I didn’t realize that he was bitten or cut or anything. And Mr. Web say, “Shelly, the pig bite the man,” and when I look, he was there coming and the blood was running down. Ih had on a long pants, the blood was running on his leg. (Sobbing) He came here, he reached here and he collapsed. The man catch him in his arms and I pulled his boxers down and there was a big cut.”

 

Marion Ali, Reporting

Michelle Andrewin shared the heartbreaking experience she went through on Saturday afternoon in Gales Point Village. She watched in horror as her husband, Anton Andrewin, suffered a fatal cut to his leg. The forty-six-year-old father of five was sitting with Michelle and a few friends in their yard, enjoying some drinks, when a stray pig wandered in. Anton tried to chase it away, but the pig turned aggressive and attacked him. This wasn’t the first time the pig had hurt Anton while he was trying to shoo it away, Michelle said.

 

Michelle Andrewin

“I was sitting here and we were having a conversation and laughing and everything, and then the pig came in the yard and was at the back of the yard over there. And he went after the pig and the dog went after the pig, and he went after the pig and it was not the first time that he get in contact with that pig. That pig hurt him more than once. He was like stoning the pig and the pig was aggressive and I was shouting. I said, “Tinny” left da pig, left da pig, da pig wa bite yoh. That’s why I’m screaming from here.”

 

After her husband was wounded, Michelle Andrewin tried to stop the bleeding by tying a piece of cloth around his leg. She then rushed him to the Southern Regional Hospital, but he went limp before they arrived. The cut had severed a major artery, causing him to bleed out. When the villagers heard the tragic news, they hunted down the pig and killed it. Village chairman Jason Altschaft said he helped euthanize the animal, and the villagers then sacrificed it.

 

Jason Altschaft, Chairman, Gales Point Village

“When we had heard that he didn’t make it, that’s when I went back over to the family and I found out that they were chasing down the pig. I’d heard them – when I went back to go get my license firearm, I could hear them chasing the pig, and the pig was squealing. So as I got there, we put it down.”

 

But how will the Gales Point Village Council ensure that animal owners take responsibility and prevent their pets from roaming freely around the village?

 

Jason Altschaft

“Ultimately, it comes down to the owner’s responsibility. I mean, when it comes down to the law. That’s the facts. So if nobody wants to get charged, they’re gonna have to deal with this right away. I believe there’s a code that doesn’t really allow pigs in a village for several reasons. And I think we just learned one of the main ones besides disease. So those laws are in place for a reason.”

 

Marion Ali

“What’s the owner of the pig saying?”

 

Jason Altschaft

“So we haven’t actually talked to him. He’s not in the village at the moment. He was having some issues with being in the village. So he hadn’t been here for months, so, the pig had just become what we call feral. He’d become wild.”

 

Assistant Commissioner of Police, Hilberto Romero says the police are investigating the incident.

 

A.C.P. Hilberto Romero, Regional Commander, Eastern Division

“Investigation revealed that Anton Andrewin was at Gales Point when he went to chase a pig that was causing or eating his plants. The pig attacked him and he received an injury. He was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead.”

 

Reporter

“Is there a law or something that governs this type of thing, that it’s possible the owner of the pig might be in breach?”

 

A.C.P Hilberto Romero

“An investigation will be carried out and we will have the results at the end of the investigation.”

 

Mertle Altschaft, who is related to Anton Andrewin, prayed that his passing would bring the village closer together, something he had always hoped for.

 

Mertle Altschaft, Cousin of Deceased

“He wanted us to unite, to live in unity, everybody that – this one don’t talk that one. This one don’t – he wanted that to stop. He wanted us to live with peace, love, understanding, and forgiveness in our heart. Each and individual. He touch their life in some way and whatever way he touch your life, he asking you to remember the good things, not the bad things.”

 

Michelle Andrewin shared that the pain of losing her husband cuts as deeply as the pig’s tusk that took his life.

 

Michelle Andrewin

“I’m trying to be strong. I’m trying my best. I’m trying my best. I don’t know how I’m feeling right now. I’m trying my best to be okay.”

 

Marion Ali for News Five.