6-Year-Old Barely Survived a Chimpanzee Swarm Attack That Killed His Cousin. Now He's a Teen Wrestling Champion

Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez Credit: Eyewitness News ABC7NY/YouTube NEED TO KNOW Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez won a national high school wrestling title and will attend UNC Chapel Hill on scholarship When he was 6 years old, he survived a traumatic chimpanzee attack in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and underwent 16 reconstructive surgeries Adopted by a Long Island family, he excelled in wrestling and academics and hopes to inspire others with his story A Long Island, N. Y. , high school wrestling champion who survived a chimpanzee attack at 6 years old is about to start another chapter in his incredible journey.

In March, Dunia Sibomana-Rodriguez won the National High School Coaches Association title at 123 pounds, his latest achievement in a stellar high school wrestling career. The 18-year-old, who announced his plans to go to UNC Chapel Hill in November 2024 on a scholarship, has a story unlike any other wrestler who has stood alongside him on any podium. “I don't think I would have ever thought I'd be here, coming from my country and ending up being a good wrestler,” Sibomana-Rodriguez told WABC in an interview published on Wednesday, April 15.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. When Sibomana-Rodriguez was 6 years old and living in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he, his cousin and his brother were attacked by a swarm of chimpanzees. His cousin died, while he and his brother were injured.

Sibomana-Rodriguez suffered traumatic injuries to his lips, face and right ear, according to the New York Plastic Surgery Group . He also lost a finger in the attack. Sibomana-Rodriguez was brought to the U.