Featured Image Credit: Family Handout
Topics: Africa, Travel, US News, World News, New York
Liv Bridge
Topics: Africa, Travel, US News, World News, New York
The husband of a woman who was killed in front of him by a rampaging hippo has spoken out about the traumatic ordeal.
Lisa Manders from New Jersey was savagely trampled and killed by a hippo during a safari trip in Zambia with her husband.
The 70-year-old reportedly suffered 'catastrophic injuries' from the jaws of the hippo, and died moments after the attack.
Now, her heartbroken husband, Craig, is suing the tour operator, as he alleges the company failed to keep the mom-of-three safe.
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The couple left the US on May 31, 2024, for a ten-day safari trip, and they'd only been at the resort for five days when they went out on a 'bush walk', led by the guides to the riverbank, which turned deadly.
In a statement given by his attorneys, Paul Slager and Nicole Coates, Craig said: "Had we understood the dangers posed by the hippopotamus, we never would have agreed to be in such close contact while on foot.
"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," he added.
The lawsuit filed in Stamford Superior Court states the guides 'knew or should have known' that the close proximity of wild hippo to tourists in 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 that was armed to protect the group, had reportedly left the area when the hippo launched itself at Lisa.
Hippos are some of the most dangerous animals on Earth, being large, heavy, and surprisingly nimble on their feet, reaching speeds of 20mph.
The lawsuit claims the animal saw the group and charged towards Lisa.
Despite her attempts to flee, it caught her and 'violently attacked' her.
The lawsuit claims the beast grabbed her by its mouth, lifted her off the ground, shook her entire body, and crushed her head and body in its jaws.
Legal representatives for the tour operator African Portfolio, based in Connecticut, said the death was a tragedy but 'really unusual'.
Attorney Rod Gould said the company works with reputable safari lodges in Africa and is only responsible for organizing the tours and not what happens on the trips.
He said: "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 further claims the Manders weren't 'adequately warned' of the dangers around the water and were 'negligently encouraged' to go near the bank to see the hippo.
Craig's legal team said the incident was 'entirely preventable'.
Slager of 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 reveals she was born in Queens, New York, and graduated from Oneonta University before going on to work in finance for 40 years.
She loved cooking, traveling, visiting New York, and is survived by her husband, her 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 added. “Her violent death is a devastating loss not only for our family, but for our community."
LADbible Group has contacted African Portfolio for comment.