A woman from New Jersey was killed by a hippo while on an African safari with her husband who now claims that the tour operator had not kept her safe.
Lisa Manders, 70, was horribly attacked last year by the hippo in Zambia during the trip, while her husband, Craig, watched horrible husband.
The mother of three suffering 'catastrophic injuries' and died just after the attack, according to the court case.
“If we had understood the dangers of the Hippopotamus, we would never have agreed to be in such close contact while we are on foot,” Craig said in a statement from his lawyers, Paul Slager and Nicole Coates, NBC reported News.
“The idea that we were unconsciously exposed to such an extreme danger, a danger that became worse by our guides who only leave Lisa on foot with nothing between her and such a deadly animal is downright amazing.”
The couple had left America on May 31, 2024 for a ten-day safari in Zambia. They had only been there for five days when they went on a 'bush walk' according to the court case.
The guides, according to the court case, 'knew or should have known that the close presence of the Wild Nile horse for participants in the Bush walk was an immediate and extreme danger, due to the well -known tendencies of Hippopotami for very unpredictable, territorial and aggressive in such circumstances. '
Nevertheless, the guides left the area, one of which was at least armed with a gun for the protection of the Tour group.
Lisa Manders, 70, was horribly killed last year by the Nile horse in Zambia on an African safari, while her husband, Craig, was in horror. Now Craig suggests the tour operator for negligence on the safety of his deceased wife
“If we had understood the dangers of the Hippopotamus, we would never have agreed to have so close contact while we are on foot,” said Manders
“The idea that we were unconsciously exposed to such an extreme danger, a danger that got worse by our guides who only leave Lisa on foot with nothing between her and such a deadly animal is downright amazing,” said Craig
That was when the hippo suddenly stormed out of the water to Lisa, who tried to flee the giant animal, and attacked her.
“She was unable to escape and the hippo attacked her violent, grabbed her except his mouth, lifted her off the ground, shook her whole body and crushed her head and body with his bit,” said the court case.
The Tour was organized by African Portfolio, a company based in Connecticut. Rod Gould, the company's lawyer, described Lisa's death as a terrible but 'really unusual' tragedy.
According to Gould, however, the company is only responsible for organizing the tours, working with the most renowned safari lodges in Africa, and not for what happens on the trips.
'My customer is a tour operator. It organizes tours. For example, a trip can include airline tickets. We are not responsible if the airline loses luggage, “said Gould.
The lawsuit claims that the Manders 'were not fully aware of, nor sufficiently warned' by the guides that approaching the bank might endanger them.
It also claimed that they 'were encouraged … to approach the water and stand on the couch' to see and photograph the hippo.
Craig's lawyers described the incident as a 'completely' tragedy to be prevented.
The lawsuit claims that the Manders 'were not fully aware of, nor sufficiently warned' by the guides that approaching the bank might endanger them. Furthermore, it claimed that they 'were encouraged … to approach the water and stand on the couch' to see and photograph the hippopotamus
“Her violent death is a devastating loss, not only for our family, but also for our community,” said Craig
“Interaction with the natural world in the wilderness can be an incredibly rich experience,” Slager Madry LLC told NBC News.
“But wilderness guides and tour operators such as African portfolio bear the responsibility to ensure that the basic precautionary measures are taken to ensure that customers who visit African wilderness are not unnecessarily exposed to extreme dangers.”
Lisa is remembered by her husband as the 'best mother and woman that someone could ever hope for'.
She loved cooking, traveling and spending time with her friends and family, according to her death advertisement.
Lisa is survived by her husband Craig, her children Casey, Trevor and Mackenzie, her brother Paul and her granddaughter Lulu.
“Her violent death is a devastating loss, not only for our family, but also for our community,” Craig added.
