River Guide Paul Tampler Survives Being Swallowed By A Hippo; Retells Harrowing Near Death Tale[VIDEO]

Paul Templer, a river guide in Zimbabwe, was swallowed by a hippo and miraculously survived the ordeal.

At 27, Templer was leading a group of clients and three apprentice guides down the river near Zimbabwe's Victoria Falls in kayaks when a hippo attacked and swallowed him.

Templer describes his survival tale in great detail in The Guardian's "Experience" series on Friday and has since grabbed headlines around the world.

"There was a terrible, sulphurous smell, like rotten eggs, and a tremendous pressure against my chest," Paul Templer said recalling the moment he realized he was in the throat of a hippo. 

Templer was actually familiar with this particular hippo.  He had spotted him on Zambezi River near Victoria Falls where he's been taking group tours for years. This hippo was a grouchy old two-ton bull that had frequently attempted to attack people, so Templer always avoided him.  But then, while peacefully enjoying his surroundings, he felt a smack on his back.  How he decribes the next few moments is chilling:

"There was no transition at all, no sense of approaching danger. It was as if I had suddenly gone blind and deaf.

I was aware that my legs were surrounded by water, but my top half was almost dry. I seemed to be trapped in something slimy. There was a terrible, sulphurous smell, like rotten eggs, and a tremendous pressure against my chest. My arms were trapped but I managed to free one hand and felt around - my palm passed through the wiry bristles of the hippo's snout. It was only then that I realised I was underwater, trapped up to my waist in his mouth.

I wriggled as hard as I could, and in the few seconds for which he opened his jaws, I managed to escape."

Paul survived the hippo's attack but lost an arm to the monster. He was depressed for years about his missing limb and took an office job.  He decided not to feel sorry for himself anymore and started taking out tours again and hasn't ditched his passion since.

"Two years later, I led an expedition down the Zambezi, and as we drifted past the stretch where the attack had taken place, a huge hippo lurched out of the water next to my canoe," he says.

"I screamed so loudly that those with me said they'd never heard anything like it. He dived back under and was never seen again. I'd bet my life savings it was the same hippo, determined to have the final word."