Horror attack chimp in US 'had struck before'

A 200-pound chimpanzee that “ripped the face off” its owner’s friend in the US had attacked before, it was claimed today.

Travis the chimp bit and tried to pull a woman into a vehicle in 1996, 13 years before it left another victim fighting for her life in hospital.

Charla Nash, aged 55, was so disfigured during the latest attack in Connecticut on Monday that officers arriving at the scene mistook her for a man. She lost her nose, eyes and jaw in the attack, paramedics have said.

A team of surgeons took more than seven hours to treat the victim, who remained in hospital today in a critical condition.

Ms Nash received the horrific injuries to her face and hands after going to the home of a friend, Sandra Herold, who owned the 14-year-old chimp.

While the incident was taking place, Ms Herold made a desperate phone call to police.

She is heard telling the 911 operator that the chimp was killing her friend.

A transcript of the call continued: “He ripped her apart...he ripped her face off...he is trying to attack me. Please, please hurry.”

The animal was shot dead by the police at the scene.

Ms Nash was rushed to hospital where a team of doctors and surgeons worked to save her life. Hand specialists and plastic surgeons were involved in the operation.

Doctors have said the Ms Nash has made slight progress but remains in a critical condition.

Leslie Mostel-Paul, the victim of the 1996 biting incident, said that Ms Nash may not be in hospital if police had followed up her complaint made at the time.

“I honestly believe if they had followed through, maybe the laws would have been changed sooner and this other woman wouldn’t be in hospital, fighting for her life now,” she said.