27/07/2026
In 1996, 27-year-old Zimbabwean river guide Paul Templer was leading a canoe safari down the Zambezi River. Suddenly, a rogue 2-ton bull hippo attacked his co-guide's kayak. As Paul rowed over to rescue his friend, the giant animal erupted from the water and engulfed Paul head-first up to his waist. Trapped inside the dark, sulfurous mouth of an apex herbivore, Paul endured 3.5 minutes of terror as the hippo dragged him underwater and tossed him like a rag doll. Despite suffering 38 puncture wounds, a punctured lung, and an arm crushed beyond repair, Paul fought to stay calm underwater until he was spat out. After an 8-hour emergency transport, doctors saved his life.