A two-year-old boy in Uganda identified as Paul Iga survived being half-eaten by a hippo at Lake Edward. The boy was swallowed and spat out by a hippo while playing near his home before trudging back to the water.
The animal was startled by a local throwing stones at it and regurgitated the boy. He was clenched in the mouth of the animal around 800 yards away from the edge of Lake Edward.
Paul was injured and reportedly taken to a clinic for treatment where he miraculously survived. It has been reported that the toddler was transferred to a hospital in Bwera but was sent home after taking a rabies vaccine.
In a statement, Ugandan Police said: ‘This is the first such kind of incident where a hippo strayed out of Lake Edward and attacked a young child.’
He then urged residents of Katwe Kabatoro Town Council to remain vigilant around hippos.
According to AZ Animals, there are about 500 deaths per year to humans in Africa due to hippo attacks. They are pretty much among the world’s deadliest land animals.