From the Jaws of Death to the Hands of Mercy: How a Hippo Attack Survivor Is Raising Funds for the Zambian Hospital That Saved His Life

In a tale that blends horror with hope, 63-year-old Roland Cherry, a British retiree from Warwickshire, is leading a campaign to raise £20,000 for Mtendere Mission General Hospital in Zambia, the institution that played a crucial role in saving his life. His story, a near-death encounter with a hippopotamus, has transformed into a powerful testimony of survival, gratitude, and a mission to give back.

It all began in June, when Roland and his wife Shirley embarked on a camping safari holiday in Zambia. The trip took a terrifying turn while they were canoeing on the Kafue River, a tributary of the Zambezi, where Roland found himself suddenly face-to-face with one of Africa’s most dangerous creatures—a hippo.

What happened next sounds like a scene from a thriller. Without warning, the massive animal attacked, flipping Roland from his canoe and pulling him into the river’s depths. Wedged in the jaws of the beast, Roland recalls the chilling moment: “I thought my time was up.”

As the hippo dragged him to the bottom of the river, fate intervened. The animal released him, allowing Roland’s lifejacket to float him back to the surface. “I counted to 10, realising the river was quite deep,” he recounted, but his relief was short-lived. On the surface, the hippo attacked again, grabbing him and violently tossing him toward the riverbank.

Bruised, bloodied, and battling for survival, Roland managed to pull himself to the river’s edge in what he calls a “bum-shuffle.” His wife and fellow campers, witnessing the horror unfold, raised the alarm, and he was swiftly pulled onto a motorboat and rushed to safety.

However, Roland’s ordeal was far from over. He had sustained severe injuries: deep bite wounds to his legs, arm, shoulder, and abdomen—the latter a 10-inch gash. With no time to lose, he was taken to Chirundu, the nearest village, and then transferred to Mtendere Mission General Hospital, a small Catholic mission hospital located in rural Zambia.

Roland is convinced that it was the hospital’s swift and selfless response that saved his life. “As soon as we arrived, this little African hospital swung into action,” he recalls, still in awe of their professionalism and dedication. Without hesitation, the staff assessed his extensive injuries and rushed him into surgery to clean his wounds—actions that prevented a potentially fatal case of sepsis.

“They didn’t ask for my insurance details or even hesitate,” he says. “Their only focus was saving my life. I can think of no better example of the kindness of strangers.”

The hospital, funded largely by an Italian diocese and run by the Sisters of Charity of St. Capitanio and Gerosa, relies heavily on donations and international support. It is a critical institution for both the local community and any travelers in need of urgent medical care.

After the emergency treatment at Mtendere, Roland was transferred to a hospital in Johannesburg for additional operations. But it was the quick action at the mission hospital that made his recovery possible, and Roland remains deeply moved by the experience. “If they hadn’t acted so promptly, I might not be here today.”

Now, safely back home in Warwickshire, Roland is determined to repay the hospital’s life-saving generosity. He has launched a fundraising campaign with the goal of raising £20,000 for Mtendere Mission General Hospital, with the hope of ensuring that they can continue providing excellent care to those in need, regardless of their ability to pay.

“I vowed that if I made it home, I would talk about the incident at a fundraising event for Mtendere Mission Hospital and see if we can offer something back to the hospital that almost certainly saved my life,” he said in a heartfelt appeal.

The hospital, operated by the Zambian Catholic Diocese of Monze, is a beacon of hope for the rural population, providing essential health services and emergency care in an area where such resources are scarce. Roland’s fundraising efforts aim to strengthen this institution, ensuring that both the local community and visitors like himself can benefit from the hospital’s exceptional care.

His message to potential donors is simple but profound: “If you feel able, please give what you can afford so that we can help this wonderful little hospital carry on its excellent work in rural Zambia.”

What began as a harrowing brush with death has now become a story of survival, generosity, and the power of human kindness. Roland’s journey from the jaws of a hippo to the hands of compassionate healthcare workers in Zambia is a testament to the impact that mission hospitals like Mtendere can have—and why they need support to continue their life-saving work.

With his fundraising campaign now in full swing, Roland Cherry is on a mission of his own, determined to turn his terrifying ordeal into a beacon of hope for others in need. His story serves as a powerful reminder that sometimes, even in our darkest moments, we can find the light of kindness shining through.