The Man Who Was Almost Eaten Alive By A Hippo Has Shared His Experience In Great Detail

Whenever it comes up in conversation that hippos aren’t super cute like most people think they are and are actual brutal killers, I always direct them to the story of Paul Templer who was swallowed alive by one and spat out about a decade ago, losing his left arm in the process.

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I’ve heard Paul talk about his experience before, but never in so much detail so it’s only right that I finally include this story on Sick Chirpse. Buckle up, because it’s a doozy.

I was working as a tour guide in Zimbabwe, over by Victoria Falls.

I was out with three fellow guides and some tourists when we came across a group of hippos in the water. They weren’t too close by – and while I felt a bit of apprehension, I believed we were on a safe route.

However, suddenly I heard a huge splash and a crashing sound and I saw that a hippo had hit one of the other canoes. The boat flipped out of the water and into the hippo’s back – in doing so, my colleague was thrown into the water.

There were some rocks nearby and I shouted to my nearest colleague to take everyone back there to safety. Then I went off to try and find the other guide.

While all of this was still sinking in, things would quickly go from bad to worse for Paul.

I was paddling over to my colleague. When I saw the hippo coming towards me under water – it was like a submarine torpedo as it made its way towards my canoe.

Suddenly, everything went dark and quiet and it took a few seconds for me to realise what had happened.

From the waist up I felt like I wasn’t really wet, but I wasn’t really dry. I could feel a sort of pressure on my lower back and with one of my arms I could feel around, and I felt bristles.

Immediately what went through my mind was, ‘At least I know I’m not in a crocodile,’ and then my next thought was, ‘I need to get out.’

The hippo began to shake me around, while I struggling to get away.

Then the hippo spat me out. As I made my way to the surface, I spotted the other guide, who I had been trying to save, and we swam away.”

As they desperately attempted to get back to land, the hippo came back and tried again, this time swallowing Paul feet first.

I’d been swallowed up again. And this time, it really started thrashing me around – the best way I can think of to describe it is like a dog tossing around a rag doll.

I tried to reach for my gun but it was throwing me around so much I wasn’t able to reach it.

I was also desperately trying not to drown as hippo kept plunging me into the water – but miraculously, it spat me out again.

But then the hippo seemed even more determined and it charged at me with its mouth open and grabbed me by the torso.

It all seemed like slow motion. I thought he was going to bite me in half and I saw my blood mixing with the water and I remember thinking, ‘Will I bleed to death or will I drown?’

I felt very detached – like nothing I did would have any effect.

My arm was mangled and my colleague lost his life, but fortunately the hippo left me alone.

I had 38 bite wounds with one being so deep that my other colleagues could see my lungs.

Thankfully one of them wrapped it up with clingfilm from food nearby which stopped my lungs from collapsing and the surgeons at the hospital were able to save my right arms and legs.

My recovery was slow and painful as I struggled to deal with losing my arm and the death of my colleague.

I was eventually able to overcome those feelings though and now work as a motivational speaker, sharing my story and trying to help others.

Wow that really is one hell of a story isn’t it? I’m surprised that nobody has tried to make a movie about it yet or even one just based on it in the same way that ‘Cocaine Bear‘ was based on something that happened but didn’t really have one iota of truth in it. Templar has already written a book, so that’s a good starting point. I feel like such a horrific experience should at least be presented in some kind of televisual form.