The British father of a three-year-old boy who was attacked by a giraffe said he is praying the youngster has not suffered brain damage.
Dr Sam Williams has been at the bedside of son Finn and wife Katy, who are both in intensive care in South Africa.
The mum and son were nearly killed by the female giraffe, who was protecting her two-month-old calf.
Katy, 35, and Finn both suffered life threatening injuries in the sustained attack on the nature reserve where they live in Hoedspruit, Limpopo Province.
The mum and son were nearly killed in the vicious and sustained attack by the female giraffe on Monday.
Authorities have confirmed the animal will not be killed, a move which Sam has welcomed.
He said in a statement: "I am thankful that the giraffe will be moved with her calf as I was informed that she is not being destroyed as a result of the incident.
"I have no doubt that this is what Katy would want".
Family lawyer Marina Botha added: "Words do not come easy for Sam at this difficult time but he tries to remain positive and focus on every improvement that they are making".
She said: "Sam says his wife and son are doing well under the circumstance and Finn’s condition is still unchanged and his condition remains critical.
"At this stage the consequences of his traumatic brain injury are unknown and he is being kept under sedation. The family deny that they have been informed of any brain damage.
"The family have decided to remain positive until the full extent of Finn’s injuries are known."
The lawyer said that Katy was operated on by surgeons overnight on Wednesday into Thursday morning adding:"Doctors are satisfied with her condition although she is under sedation.
"The operation was successful and she needs to be given time to heal" she said.
Sam’s statement continued: "I realise that even if things go well, we still have a long, hard road to recovery ahead of us, but I am hoping that we can one day go back to throwing rocks into the river together and have bedtime snuggles".
"Katy and I are are both very aware of how wild animals behave and how we should behave around them. We also realise with all the knowledge that anyone can have, that wild wild animal remain unpredictable as this tragic event has once again shown."
Conservation biologist Sam, 36, had been out for his evening run in the hills at the 394 hectare reserve which is home to giraffe, antelope, wildebeest, hippo and crocodiles roaming fee.
Mum Katy who is also a scientist had taken Finn out to see her dad return from his run as she often did when they spooked the female giraffe who lashed out to protect her young baby.
Dr Williams was trampled underfoot along with son Finn and both would almost certainly have been killed if her husband had not stumbled onto the scene as he returned from his trail run.
With the giraffe stamping on his wife and daughter with its 5 foot long legs he ran at it screaming and shouting and waving his arms and the beast took fright and ran off with its calf.
He raised the alarm and tended his terribly stricken and blood drenched family as a medical team rushed to the Blyde Wildlife Estate who then called in two ER24 air ambulance choppers.
The shock attack happened at 6pm on Monday and in the early hours of Tuesday morning Finn underwent emergency surgery to release intense pressure on his brain inside his skull.
Sam is from Bradford, Yorkshire, and his wife Katy is from Baltimore in the USA and they met while they were both doing research work in Indonesia and fell in love and got married.
Finn was born in the UK but has spend his whole life in South Africa.
The family lawyer said: "Finn has been raised in an environment where his adventurous parent are teaching him to respect, enjoy and to love nature as much as they do."
Sam had previously been awarded two degrees in biology at Manchester University.
Wife Katy and son Finn are being treated at Busamed Modderfontein Hospital near Johannesburg.
The manager of Blyde Wildlife Estate, Riaan Cilliers, confirmed the incident and said:“We are all in shock about this very sad incident and we ensure the family that they are in our prayers”.
Mr Cilliers confirmed that the giraffe in question has a two-month-old calf which may have had an influence on her behaviour and may have been surprised by the mother and son.
It is believed the female giraffe and her calf may be moved to another wildlife reserve.
The scientists did their PhD in Biological Anthropology together at Durham University specialising in carnivore conservation which they studies together in Indonesia, Honduras, Zimbabwe and South Africa.
Sam said in a press statement that he regarded the incident as an “unfortunate act of nature” where the giraffe saw his wife and son as a threat to her young one.
He said the family has asked the public and media to kindly respect their privacy during “this very difficult time” that they are going through and released some family photographs.
Family lawyer Marina Botha said: "Sam confirms that he understands nature and with the information available at the moment he regards the incident as an unfortunate act of nature.
"He understands the giraffe saw his wife and son as a threat to her young one.
The family live on the Blyde Wildlife Estate at a home just 150 yards from where the attack happened in a purposely built secure gated nature reserve with 154 properties.
It boasts a clubhouse, tennis courts, gym and a restaurant and bar open to all residents.
Katy’s father Jack Standish is said to be flying to South Africa to comfort his daughter and grandson and help his son-in-law look after his young family after the attack.
Sam is a post-doctoral research fellow at the University of Limpopo and his wife Katy has a post-doctorate position at the University of Mpumulanga.
Earlier this year a cameraman who at worked on British TV show Wild at Heart was killed by a giraffe as he filmed at the Glen Africa game reserve in Broederstroom.
South African award winning film maker Carlos Carvalho, 47, was knocked 16 feet through the air when the giraffe violently swung its neck at him and he died in hospital.
The TV series featuring a British family running an animal hospital in the African bush was filmed at the Glen Africa reserve for many years worked on by Mr Carvalho.
Giraffes have one of the most vicious kicks in the animal kingdom and can kill a lion with a single hoofed strike and they can also kill with blows from their head or neck.
Giraffes have small horn like bumps called ossicones they use against each other in fights.
A spokesman for ER24 who sent two air ambulance helicopters confirmed Katy and Finn suffered "numerous serious injuries" and were taken to hospital in critical condition.
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