Man Helplessly Witnesses Wife's Murder During Safari (6 photos)
Lisa Manders, 70, died while on holiday with her husband Craig in Zambia. A hippo attacked the woman, causing fatal injuries. The grief-stricken widower blames the tour company for the incident. 
A lawsuit against Connecticut-based African Portfolio claims the mother of three suffered “catastrophic injuries” and died minutes after the attack. And the negligence of the tour operator, who failed to ensure safety, is to blame.
“If we had known how dangerous the hippo was, we would never have agreed to such close contact. The idea that our guides would leave Lisa alone, defenseless against such a deadly animal, is mind-boggling,” Craig said.
The couple left America for a ten-day safari in Zambia on May 31, 2024. On the fifth day of the trip, the guides took them on a walking tour to a waterhole. 
The plaintiff alleges that the guides knew or should have known that the hippo’s presence near the participants posed a serious danger due to the animals’ unpredictability, territoriality, and aggression. However, they suggested that the tourists come closer to the water and take pictures of the ungulates. The guides themselves, one of whom was armed with a rifle to protect the group, left the area.
At that moment, the hippopotamus jumped out of the water and attacked the woman. He grabbed her head, began to shake it, after which he smashed her skull and trampled her body. 
Representatives of African Portfolio claim that Manders' death was an accident. Craig's lawyers called the incident a tragedy that could have been prevented. 
Manders describes Lisa as “the best mother and wife.” She loved to cook, travel, and spend time with friends and family.
“Her violent death is a great loss not only to our family, but to the entire community,” the widower added. 
