The husband of a woman tragically killed in front of him by a hippo has shared his experience of the horrific event.
Lisa Manders, a resident of New Jersey, was brutally attacked by a hippo while on a safari in Zambia with her spouse.
The 70-year-old endured ‘catastrophic injuries’ from the hippo’s attack and passed away shortly after.
Her grieving husband, Craig, is now taking legal action against the tour company, claiming they did not ensure the safety of the mother of three.
The pair departed the United States on May 31, 2024, embarking on a ten-day safari adventure, and had spent only five days at the resort when their ‘bush walk’ by the riverbank took a tragic turn.
In a statement provided by his lawyers, Paul Slager and Nicole Coates, Craig expressed: “Had we understood the dangers posed by the hippopotamus, we never would have agreed to be in such close contact while on foot.”
He continued: “The idea that we were unwittingly exposed to such an extreme danger, a danger made even worse by our tour guides leaving Lisa alone on foot with nothing between her and such a deadly animal, is nothing short of astonishing.”
The lawsuit submitted in Stamford Superior Court claims the guides ‘knew or should have known’ that being near wild hippos during the bush walk ‘posed an immediate and extreme danger, due to the known tendencies of hippopotami to be highly unpredictable, territorial, and aggressive in such circumstances.’
The guides, including one who was armed for protection, allegedly left the area as the hippo attacked Lisa.
Hippos are among the most dangerous animals globally, possessing significant size and weight yet capable of moving at speeds up to 20mph.
The legal complaint states the hippo saw the group and charged at Lisa.
Despite her efforts to escape, the animal caught and ‘violently attacked’ her.
The lawsuit describes how the hippo seized her in its mouth, lifted her off the ground, shook her, and crushed her head and body.
Lawyers for the Connecticut-based tour operator African Portfolio acknowledged the incident as a tragedy, though they described it as ‘really unusual’.
Attorney Rod Gould stated that the company collaborates with respected safari lodges in Africa and only coordinates the tours, not the activities during them.
He explained: “My client is a tour operator. It organizes tours. A trip, for example, might include airfare. We’re not responsible if the airline loses luggage.”
The lawsuit also asserts that the Manders were not ‘adequately warned’ of the risks near the water and were ‘negligently encouraged’ to approach the riverbank to observe the hippo.
Craig’s legal representatives argue the tragedy was ‘entirely preventable’.
Slager from Slager Madry LLC told NBC News: “Interacting with the natural world in the wilderness can be an incredibly rich experience, but wilderness guides and tour operators like African Portfolio carry the responsibility to ensure basic safety precautions are taken to ensure customers visiting the African wilderness are not unnecessarily exposed to extreme dangers.”
An obituary for Lisa states she was born in Queens, New York, and graduated from Oneonta University before pursuing a career in finance for four decades.
She had a passion for cooking, traveling, visiting New York, and is survived by her husband, children Casey, Trevor, and Mackenzie, her brother Paul Langer, and her granddaughter Lulu.
“Lisa was the best mother and wife anyone could ever hope for,” Craig mentioned. “Her violent death is a devastating loss not only for our family, but for our community.”
LADbible Group has reached out to African Portfolio for a comment.