13-year-old boy was looking at fish underwater at a Maryland state park before a rabid beaver left him needing multiple surgeries

A 13-year-old boy required multiple surgeries after being attacked by a rabid beaver at a Maryland state park. The incident reportedly occurred while Dominick Cebula was visiting Cunningham Falls State Park with his family. He was swimming and looking at fish underwater when the animal latched onto his chest.

As reported by the NY Post, the teenager fought to free himself from the animal as it held on with significant force. His father, Jeff Cebula, described the terrifying moment when the animal began shaking its head. “He grabbed its head and a leg, and he tried to get it off of him,” Jeff Cebula said. 

“At that point, he kind of felt that it was locked onto him. And then it started shaking its head, kind of like a dog would do.” The teen managed to break free, but the encounter was not over yet. As he backed away to reach safety, the animal attacked him again, biting his right hand.

He went through three surgeries 

Dominick was eventually able to fight the animal off a second time, but the physical damage was severe. He was reportedly airlifted to Johns Hopkins Hospital to receive urgent medical care. Beyond the immediate treatment for his lacerations, he had to begin a rigorous course of rabies post-exposure treatment. 

This process is far more intense than a single injection. “It’s not just one shot,” Jeff Cebula said. “It’s multiple shots around each bite site.” The situation was confirmed to be a health risk after the beaver tested positive for rabies.

The medical journey for the teen reportedly involved three surgeries. These procedures were necessary to treat the wounds left on his chest and hands, as well as to repair severe nerve damage caused by the animal. The attack has significantly impacted a family tradition that spanned three decades. 

Jeff Cebula noted that the family had been visiting the park annually for 30 years without incident, making this encounter particularly jarring. He expressed a shift in his own outlook regarding outdoor safety. “I think that now I’m going to be a lot more aware of my surroundings,” he told WUSA 9.

Despite the trauma of the event, the teenager has shown resilience. His father noted that the story became a major topic when the boy returned to school. His unique experience made him “pretty popular on the first day of school” as he shared the details of the attack with his classmates.