Warwickshire man savaged by hippo in terrifying attack that 'nobody survives'

Roland Cherry and wife Shirley were on a river safari in Zambia when attacked by a hippo
-Credit: (Image: SWNS)


A company director shared his terrifying experience of surviving a hippo attack while on a river safari in Zambia with his wife.

Roland Cherry, 63, and wife Shirley faced the rampaging animal in a potentially deadly encounter. Roland was thrown into the air and into the water with a dislocated shoulder when their canoe was rammed by a female hippo protecting its calf.

While Shirley managed to swim to safety, Roland was left at the mercy of the 1.4-tonne beast. In a horrifying turn of events, he found himself inside the jaws of the animal, which dragged him to the river's bottom.

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Despite managing to reach shallow waters, the hippo attacked again, tossing Roland into the air. He eventually reached safety and was rushed to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The couple were three weeks into their Zambian holiday when the incident occurred on June 25. Roland was later airlifted to a Johannesburg hospital where he spent five days before returning to the UK.

Statistics reveal that hippos kill up to 3,000 people annually. Roland still bears deep scars from the 10in (25cm) bite to his stomach, along with injuries to his thigh and shoulder. Recovering at home in Tysoe, Warkwishire Roland said: "When the hippo first hit the canoe, there was a massive crash, it was like a car crash.

"The boat reared up in the air and we were both sent flying into the water. I surfaced but my shoulder was dislocated and I couldn't actually swim.

"I was a sitting duck, trying to swim with one arm which was never going to end well and then it grabbed me. As I was being dragged to the bottom of the river I remember thinking 'oh no, what a way to go, I'm not ready to die'. And I thought this was it, because nobody survives hippo attacks."

Roland Cherry suffered serious injuries in a hippo attack in Warwickshire
Roland Cherry suffered serious injuries in a hippo attack in Warwickshire

Somehow Roland managed to free himself from the hippo's jaws and was able to scramble to shallower water but the hippo struck again. He said: "I was grabbed again and thrown through the air like a rag doll but towards the bank which was the godsend.

"I remember looking down at my legs thinking 'that's not good'. There was bits of flesh sticking out of my torn shorts and blood over my abdomen.

"I was in its jaws and I didn't see it once - we have eye witness accounts of that happening - but I was never conscious of that. I just remember hearing Shirley calling my name and then lots of friendly arms dragging me out the water."

Roland was then hauled onto a motorboat and rushed back to the couple's camp up stream where an ambulance was waiting to take him to hospital.

Shirley, 63, recalled watching in horror as the hippo launched at her husband. She said: "I saw him surface and he took a gulp and then I saw him being thrown in the air.

"The hippo could have attacked any one of us and I can't help feeling if it had been me, I wouldn't be here now, so I think Roland took one for the team."

After surviving the harrowing ordeal, Roland was told by doctors how fortunate he was to survive, noting that had his injuries been just a bit more severe, he might not have made it.

In gratitude for the care he received, the couple has started fundraising efforts for Mtendere Mission Hospital, where he received initial medical attention. He expressed his thankfulness saying: "I'm forever in their debt which is why I'm raising money to try and see what I can give back.

"They've given me an awful lot, a second chance at life and I need to give back to them." Despite the traumatic experience, Roland hasn't dismissed the idea of going back to Africa for more safaris in the future.

He added: "We were there to see the natural world and we wanted to see, but I didn't want to see that close up. I certainly don't hate hippos - I'm not very fond of what one did to me."