Botsuana, South Africa - Diana Tilden-Davis was in the compettion for the title of Miss World 1991 and got the second place. These last few days she having touristical sightseeing in Okovango Swamp. She was on a small rowboat when she was attacked by a hippopotamus and bitten on a leg.
Diana was taken to the Milpark Hospital in Johanesburgo by helicopter. She is currently (12/24, at 10h42 GMT ) in a stable condition, though there is no info about the extent of the wound.
Hippos are VERY dangerous. They can weight up to 3.5 metric tons and are fierce temperamental territorialists. Plus, they have really big mouths with really big teeth. Staying between the water and a hippo is already unafe enough, but being near hippos in a small boat is suicide. Diana is lucky to be alive.
Source: BBC
-Ren, reporter wannabe, wouldn’t go to a place that’s full of hippos without at least a couple of big pachiderm-hunting rifles for protection.
Actually, I recall hearing somewhere (it may have been QI :get it?: ) that hippos are responsible for more fatalities per year in Africa than any other animal, provided you discount all those nasty malaria-carrying parasite things.