Man brutally mauled to death by pet hippo he allegedly treated 'like a son'

A man who hoped to domesticate a hippo was found dead after a rather horrifying incident.

While many people love animals, in the grand scheme of things there are very few we have truly domesticated - and this is especially true when it comes to larger animals.

Hippos, despite their cute appearance, can wreak havoc and are known for having a very aggressive and territorial nature.

Despite this, South African man Marius Els attempted to keep one as a pet after saving it from a flood back in 2005.

The animal that was named Humphrey had even delighted people online as pictures circulated showing Els riding the behemoth that weighed over a ton.

40-year-old Els reportedly said the animal was like a 'son' to him but the hippo would eventually be the cause of his death.

The man hoped to turn the animal into a pet after rescuing it from a flood (Getty Stock Image)

In 2011 reports confirmed that the hippo dragged Els into the water and killed him while on his 400-acre farm in South Africa after years together.

The man’s body was found submerged in the same river where he had previously rescued the animal.

Netcare 911 spokesperson Jeffrey Wicks gave more details about the death of the farmer.

He said: “Paramedics responded to the scene at El’s home [on the banks of the Vaal River in Free State province] to find that the man had been bitten several times by the animal.

"It had also been immersed in the river for an unknown period."

Since this incident, the story has long circulated on social media, most recently Reddit users discussing the unfortunate turn of events.

Many users remarked at just how dangerous the massive beasts can be.

One user commented: “The world is not like a Disney film, where wild animals are friendly.”

Reddit users have explained just how dangerous hippos can be (Getty Stock Image)

Another added: “Your friendly reminder that hippos are just about the only animal Steve Irwin refused to work with. They're the only animal he was ever truly frightened of instead of merely respecting the heck out of.”

A third commented: “They are the most dangerous and underrated killers in Africa.

“For absolutely no reason at all, they are filled with hate. A lion may or may not be hungry. An elephant that is not in rut can recognize its better off leaving a human alone. These things want you dead just for existing. Not when its hungry, all the time.

“They do not have an off switch for anything smaller than an elephant. Nothing else is a danger to them so they are always set to kill.”