A two-year-old Ugandan boy survived after a hippo swallowed half of his body.
The incident occurred on December 4, 2022. The child was playing near Lake Katie in the Kabatoro district when he was attacked by the hippo, according to Ugandan police.
A brave bystander, Chrispas Bagonza, saved the child after he threw stones at the hippo which caused it to spit the boy out and run away, according to a statement by a police spokesperson.
The child suffered injury to one of his hands and was given medical care in a hospital.
After the boy recovered, he was released from the hospital and returned to his parents. While at the hospital, he was vaccinated against rabies, a deadly virus that is usually spread via animal bites.
Authorities said that it was the first time a hippo had strayed from its natural habitat and attacked a child
“It’s worth noting that animals always regard human beings as a threat; thus, any interaction with them can lead to the animals acting strangely or aggressively,” the statement said.
Hippos are responsible for an estimated 500 deaths annually, compared to lions, 22 deaths. That’s staggering statistics.
Hippos have the ability to hold their breath under water for about five minutes, and a hippo’s jaw has a tremendous bite force that can snap a crocodile into half, if need be. Current statistics show that hippos kill at least two to three people every three days.
The boy was very lucky to get out alive.