Surviving a Hippo Attack: A Harrowing Experience on a Honeymoon Safari

In 2025, Sam and Anna McKee embarked on a honeymoon safari in Botswana. It was meant to be an unforgettable experience but turned into a life-changing ordeal when Sam was attacked by a hippo.

The Love Story

Sam and Anna met as teenagers and have been together for over 14 years. Their adventures have taken them snowboarding in Chile and getting married in Portugal. For their honeymoon, they chose the wilds of Botswana, eager for a memorable trip. In the first few days, they marveled at the wildlife, encountering elephants, lions, zebras, and more.

The Incident

While on a mokoro, a traditional dugout canoe, the guides alerted them about a hippo with her calves nearby, warning of the potential danger. Despite these warnings, their canoe drifted closer to the hippo’s territory.

Sam: The moment was surreal, seeing the hippo charge at the boat. The force of its attack was beyond anything I’d known.

Sam was pulled from the canoe by the hippo. Pinned in the swamp water, he clung to life against the formidable animal. Remarkably, he managed to pull himself up, realizing the severity of his injuries as his intestines protruded from his back.

Anna’s Fight

An unthinkable scene unfolded before Anna. Her reaction was immediate, confronting the hippo in an unbelievable moment of strength, leading it to release Sam.

Anna: In that moment, my mind focused solely on saving Sam. My actions were instinctual.

The couple began their desperate retreat, concerned about further dangers like crocodiles. They called for help, trying to attract the attention of others in the vicinity.

The Battle for Survival

A guide brought them to shore, where Sam laid facedown, injured and losing blood. Anna and a retired dentist helped tend to Sam’s injuries. Mobility and communication were challenges. Circumstances worsened as darkness approached, and a helicopter could not reach them promptly.

A Long Night

With no immediate help available, fear set in. Anna reached out to family for further assistance, while Sam tried to control his breath and emotions.

Sam: The thought of not having more time with Anna drove me to focus on survival.

As the night stretched on, they fought against time and the severity of Sam’s wounds.

A Ray of Hope

After a grueling wait, morning brought the sight of a helicopter. It was not a hallucination. Sam was finally airlifted to a trauma center in Johannesburg.

In the hospital, he underwent extensive surgery. Despite the grave prognosis, Sam displayed an extraordinary will to recover, waking up sooner than anticipated.

The Path to Recovery

The road ahead was long and arduous. Sam dealt with extensive injuries, including a colostomy, cracked ribs, organ damage, and severe lacerations. Recovery involved physical therapy, and during this time, he found solace in pottery.

Sam’s journaling before the attack had been reflective, pondering how he could give back to the world. These reflections evolved into the concept of Liberty’s Charity, aimed at providing skateboards to children.

Moving Forward

Today, Sam channels his experiences into Simple Soulshine, an initiative combined with pottery sales to fund his charitable ambitions. Anna and Sam continue to process what happened, receiving counseling and working to understand their traumatic experience.

This life-altering event reshaped their perspective on what truly matters, emphasizing love and gratitude.