By Christine Lavelle
A MAN who lay unconscious in a cemetery and had his nose and fingers bitten off is thought to have been savaged by a fox.
The 37-year-old man was discovered by police at St Michael’s Parish Church Cemetery in Inveresk near Musselburgh, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
He was taken to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, where he was said to be recovering from his injuries.
A source told how the victim had lost his nose and two-and-a-half fingers in the brutal attack.
He said: “He was attacked by a fox in a cemetery near Musselburgh as he was lying unconscious.
“His nose and two-and-a-half fingers were bitten off.
“He was taken to hospital unconscious but breathing.”
It is unclear how the man – who has not been named – came to be in the cemetery or the reason for his blackout.
A police spokesman said: “Lothian and Borders Police can confirm it is carrying out inquiries after a 37-year-old man was found in the Inveresk area in the early hours of Sunday, October 24, with injuries to his face and hand.
“These injuries may have been caused by animals.
“He is currently being treated for his non-life-threatening injuries at the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary.”
The spokesman added that they were “fairly confident” the man had been attacked by a fox.
Jack Fraser, a village resident, said: “People are certainly talking about it – that he had been found in the cemetery and looked like he had been punched in the face a few times.
“I also heard there were a few tops of his fingers missing.
“No one I’ve spoken to has any idea what happened to him but when people start talking they often get the wrong idea.
“I just hope he recovers all right.”
An ambulance spokesman confirmed an unconscious man with facial injuries was taken from the Inveresk cemetery to Edinburgh’s Royal Infirmary.
Councillor John Caldwell, who represents Musselburgh and Carberry, said: “I stay not far from that area and the only animals around capable of doing such a thing are foxes.”
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said: “I was walking my dog at about midnight and saw two police cars and thought they must be looking for someone.”
In June this year, a fox mauled twin baby girls Isabella and Lola Koupparis while they slept in their cots at home in London.
Commenting at the time, John Bryant, a pest control consultant who specialises in foxes, said the attack was not typical of fox behavior.
