Bhubaneswar: A 14‑year‑old boy’s unexpected and gritty face‑off with a wild boar turned into a dramatic struggle before fire services personnel rescued him on Tuesday morning. For nearly 30 minutes, he clung on to the animal’s neck during a two‑hour tussle that tested his courage.The incident occurred at Gopalpur village in Cuttack district’s Banki area when Class IX student Suman Behera went to the canal for a bath. “It was around 8.30 am. The canal lies on our village outskirts. Suddenly a wild boar charged at me. I ran and jumped into the canal, but it followed and attacked,” Behera recalled.Instead of panicking, Behera displayed courage and resisted the attack. He locked his arms around the animal’s neck and held on tightly, preventing it from inflicting further injuries.Alone in the desolate stretch, the teenager battled the boar until some villagers noticed the commotion and alerted the Banki fire services team. “We rushed immediately after receiving the call and found the boy still grappling with the animal. His presence of mind and sheer grit saved him,” Hapina Bhol, Banki fire station officer said.The team managed to rescue Behera from the boar in a 30-minute operation by tying a rope around the animal’s neck. The boar was subsequently released in a nearby forest. Behera was shifted to the nearby sub-divisional hospital for treatment. Doctors said he sustained injuries, but his condition is stable.Witnesses described the boy’s act as extraordinary. “It is unbelievable that a child could hold on to a wild boar’s neck for around 30 minutes,” said Pahali Pradhan, a local resident. The incident has quickly become the talk of the town, with his family and villagers hailing him as a hero. “We never spotted wild boars in our village. My son’s bravery has inspired the entire village,” said his father Sudarsan Behera, a farmer.