MIAMI – A field trip to a popular South Florida tourist attraction almost ended in tragedy for one student.

Frankie Luca Andreu was on a school field trip to Miami's Jungle Island when, his father said, a llama trampled his son after escaping from its pen.

Andreu, a student at Somerset Academy in Miramar, was near the park's petting zoo when the llama walked out of the pen.

"The story then is he got run over by a llama," Andreu's father told Local 10 News in an exclusive interview. "So I'm like, how does that even happen?"

Frank Andreu, who was chaperoning the trip, and his wife said their son had his shoes knocked off and suffered scrapes and bruises.

"I didn't realize it was going to go to me," Frankie said.

Instead of calling police, Frank felt it was best to immediately bring Frankie to a hospital, where he was examined by doctors.

"Nobody from Jungle Island had been attending the pen," Frank Andreu said. "Somebody had to go get them and let them know that there was an animal loose."

Frank Andreu said it's a story he wants other parents to know when visiting Jungle Island.

"They're wild animals, and when you have wild animals and small children and you don't have somebody there that is a trained professional, you have a formula for a disaster," he said.

Jungle Island released a statement about the incident through a spokeswoman.

"Three Jungle Island staff members were present and witnessed an event (Friday) involving one of the park's popular petting zoo animal ambassadors and a visiting student," spokeswoman Rachel Pinzur said in an email to Local 10 News. "Senior staff quickly responded and spoke with the child's parent, who was also at the park, offering to call for first aid. The parent declined any assistance. The safety and security of park guests is of utmost importance to us at Jungle Island."

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