A New Jersey man whose wife was killed by a hippopotamus is suing an African safari company, claiming their tour guide failed to keep her safe before the attack.
Craig Manders sued Connecticut-based African Portfolio this month after a hippo fatally attacked his 70-year-old wife Lisa Manders during a trip in Zambia planned by the company.
The Manders traveled with African Portfolio and participated in a “bush walk” through the Zambian wilderness during a 10-day trip in June 2024. There, they came across a hippo sitting in a body of water — which the lawsuit claims the tour guides “identified and highlighted” for the couple.
The guides, one of whom had a rifle, then “permitted” the Manders to approach the water before walking ahead, leaving them behind, the lawsuit states. Then, “without warning,” the hippo “charged” at Lisa, according to the lawsuit.
Craig then watched as the hippo “violently attacked her,” lifting her off the ground and “crushing” her body, resulting in her death, according to the lawsuit.
Now, Craig’s attorneys say the company acted negligently in not warning the couple they were in “extreme danger.”
“Although the leaders…knew, or should have known of the immediate and extreme danger the hippopotamus posed to Craig and Lisa Manders…they nonetheless negligently turned and left the area, walking ahead of and away from Craig and Lisa Manders and leaving them behind with no protection from the hippopotamus,” the lawsuit reads.
Craig said he and Lisa would “never have agreed to be in such close contact while on foot” if they understood the dangers the hippo posed.
“The idea that we were unwittingly exposed to such an extreme danger, a danger made even worse by our tour guides leaving Lisa alone on foot with nothing between her and such a deadly animal, is nothing short of astonishing,” Craig said in a statement shared with NBC News by his attorneys, Paul Slager and Nicole Coates.
Meanwhile, African Portfolio’s attorney Rod Gould told NBC News the incident was a “really unusual tragedy” and said his client was not responsible for what happened to Lisa on the tour.
“My client is a tour operator. It organizes tours," Gould said. "A trip, for example, might include airfare. We're not responsible if the airline loses luggage."
African Portfolio also said in a statement to The Independent the “bush walk” was arranged by Chiawa Lodge, a “highly regarded luxury safari lodge in Zambia.”
“The incident occurred on a walking safari arranged by Chiawa Lodge. Chiawa reported that the guests were accompanied by a highly trained and experienced professional guide, a ranger and an armed National Park scout. During the safari, a hippo unexpectedly charged, killing one of the guests,” the company said.
“Immediately afterwards, African Portfolio’s founder flew to Zambia to provide assistance, along with the owner of Chiawa Lodge, to ensure that everything possible was being done to support the family and all those involved,” they added.
Lisa was a mother of three from Cranford, New Jersey.
“Lisa was the best mother and wife anyone could ever hope for,” Craig told NBC News. “Her violent death is a devastating loss not only for our family, but for our community."
