A family in Uganda is breathing signs of relief after their two-year-old baby boy miraculously survived a hippo attack.
Paul Iga was playing some meters from Lake Edward when the mammal attacked him and swallowed him full before spitting him out again.
Confirming the incident, police officers in Uganda said that the boy was rescued by a local man who attacked the animal using stones immediately after he saw the incident.
“It took the bravery of one Chrispas Bagonza, who was nearby, to save the victim after he stoned the hippo and scared it, causing it to release the victim from its mouth.
“This is the first such kind of incident where a hippo strayed out of Lake Edward and attacked a young child,” police told reporters.
The boy was then immediately rushed to a nearby hospital before being later transferred to Bwera Hospital, west Uganda, for further treatment of the injuries sustained.
Police further cautioned locals of the dangers surrounding them as the lake is the home to over 6000 hippos.
“Although the hippo was scared back into the lake, all residents near animal sanctuaries and habitats should know those wild animals are very dangerous,” police added in a statement.
