Home / Disasters and Accidents / Wife Punches Hippo to Save Husband's Life
Wife Punches Hippo to Save Husband's Life
9 Oct
Summary
- A wife punched a hippo to save her husband from its jaws.
- The couple was on their honeymoon in Botswana's Okavango Delta.
- Sam survived a hippo attack and later found solace in pottery.
A honeymoon in Botswana's Okavango Delta turned terrifying in September 2025 when a hippo attacked Sam McKee, 31. While on a mokoro boat, the couple drifted into deeper waters where a hippo charged, grabbing Sam's torso and pulling him underwater.
Sam's wife, Anna, witnessing the horrific event, immediately chose 'fight' over 'flight.' She swam towards the hippo and began punching the animal, successfully forcing it to release her husband.
Sam's legs were unresponsive upon resurfacing, and a lengthy ordeal ensued. It took over 13 hours to receive pain relief and 18 hours to reach a hospital in South Africa.
Despite emergency surgery and extensive medical support, Sam survived his near-fatal encounter. A year later, he experiences only minor "aches and pains" and has embraced pottery as a creative outlet.
