Man ripped apart and swallowed by hippo three times recalls the moment everything ‘went dark’

A man miraculously managed to survive being attacked by a hippo three times.

Talk about a cat with nine lives - this guy defeated all odds.

Paul Templer lost his arm during the horrific animal incident in Zimbabwe, whilst working as a tourist guide near the water.

He was in his canoe near Victoria Falls at the time of the incident, when it all went seriously wrong.

Talking to LADbible, he said: "I was out with three fellow guides and some tourists when we came across a group of hippos in the water.

"They weren't too close by - and while I felt a bit of apprehension, I believed we were on a safe route.

The hippo was not backing down. (Getty stock images)

"However, suddenly I heard a huge splash and a crashing sound and I saw that a hippo had hit one of the other canoes.

"The boat flipped out of the water and into the hippo's back - in doing so, my colleague was thrown into the water.

"There were some rocks nearby and I shouted to my nearest colleague to take everyone back there to safety.

"Then I went off to try and find the other guide."

And this is where the situation turned disastrous.

He added: "I saw the hippo coming towards me under water - it was like a submarine torpedo as it made its way towards my canoe.

"Suddenly, everything went dark and quiet and it took a few seconds for me to realise what had happened.

"From the waist up I felt like I wasn't really wet, but I wasn't really dry.

"I could feel a sort of pressure on my lower back and with one of my arms I could feel around, and I felt bristles."

Paul Templer lived to tell the story. (Paul Templer)

Clocking onto the fact that he was indeed - inside the hippo - Paul claimed to feel 'relieved' by the revelation.

This was because he knew he wasn't inside a crocodile, and knew there was a chance he could get out.

"The hippo began to shake me around, while I struggling to get away.

"Then the hippo spat me out.

"As I made my way to the surface, I spotted the other guide, who I had been trying to save, and we swam away."

The hippo then came back for another bite.

"I'd been swallowed up again," Paul added.

Miraculously, after being flung about, the hippo proceeded to spit him out again. But it didn't seem to be backing down.

Upon the hippos third attempt, it 'charged' at Paul - mouth wide open.

"I thought he was going to bite me in half and I saw my blood mixing with the water and I remember thinking, 'Will I bleed to death or will I drown?'"

Paul's colleague sadly lost his life during the harrowing incident, but Paul managed to survive.

Despite this, his entire body was mangled, but surgeons were able to save his right arm and injured leg.

He is now a motivational speaker, and honestly, if someone who had survived being eaten by a hippo three times was trying to give me advice - I'd be all over it.