Paul templer injuries

Team — Templer Foundation

‘I was up to my waist down a hippo’s throat.’ He …...

1996 Zambezi River hippopotamus attack

Hippopotamus attack along Zambezi River

The 1996Zambezi River hippopotamus attack was an incident on the Zambezi River, Zimbabwe, near Victoria Falls on 9 March 1996 where a hippopotamus attacked two river tour guides killing one and injuring the other.

The surviving tour guide is British-born[1] Zimbabwean Paul Templer (born c. 1969) who lost an arm in the attack.[2][3] The tour guide who died by drowning was named Evans Namasango (born c. 1971[4]) and was an apprentice guide to Templer.[3][5]

Description of attack

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The attack began when a bull hippopotamus flipped Namasango's kayak with two passengers inside, and Templer rowed over to assist when he was attacked directly by another hippopotamus.[3] The hippopotamus attempted to swallow Templer, but was unable to due to his size.[3] The hippopotamus released him, but it returned to atta