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Territorial Hippo Mauls Guides Near Victoria Falls, One Dead as Survivor Loses Arm

Colleagues sealed his chest with food wrappers, a move doctors later said likely saved his life.

Overview

  • Zambezi River guide Paul Templer says a known bull hippo charged his group without warning during a tour near Victoria Falls.
  • The animal attacked repeatedly, at one point holding him waist-deep in its mouth before surfacing and releasing him.
  • Doctors later counted nearly 40 bite wounds, and surgeons amputated his left arm after his chest was torn open.
  • Fellow guide Evans was thrown from a kayak during the attack, and his body was recovered two days downstream.
  • Coverage is based on Templer’s account, colleagues’ descriptions and doctors’ comments, with no formal investigation findings reported.