Farmer's gruesome last moments as pet hippo 'like his son' mauled him to death

Daily Mirror

28-05-2025

WARNING - GRAPHIC CONTENT: Army major Marius Els was killed by his pet hippo Humphrey, the 1.2 tonne animal had been living on his 400 acre farm for years
Tragically, a South African army major was brutally killed after being savagely mauled by his own pet hippo in Free State province. The animal he'd reared from infancy and called his 'son' left him dead, submerged in the same river from which he had rescued the hippo during a flood.
Marius Els, 40, suffered a brutal attack by the 1.2 tonne beast named Humphrey. He had taken the hippo to his 400-acre farm where it was trained to co-swim with humans. Footage of Els audaciously riding the 2,000-pound hippo went viral, leaving viewers in disbelief over such an achievement.
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However, warnings of the hippopotamus' untameable nature were repeatedly sounded as reported by The Guardian. Notably, a distressing episode occurred on Els' property when a man and his grandchild were forced to scale a tree to escape the aggressive animal while canoeing through its living quarters.
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While the two were eventually rescued by paramedics with Els' help, who lured the hippo away using an apple, concerns about the wild pet had been raised before. Louise Els, the farmer's pharmacist wife, harboured doubts after several worrying instances, including the hippo's threatening behaviour towards golfers and the fatal injuring of calves belonging to Els' business partner.
Despite these ominous signs, Marius Els remained positive about their bond, saying: "Humphrey's like a son to me, he's just like a human. There's a relationship between me and Humphrey and that's what some people don't understand.", reports the Mirror US.
"They think you can only have a relationship with dogs, cats and domestic animals. But I have a relationship with the most dangerous animal in Africa."
Hippos are formidable creatures and are armed with giant canine teeth - they are said to kill more people every year than lions, elephants, leopards, buffalo and rhinos combined.
After elephants and rhinoceroses, the hippopotamus is the third largest land mammal - with adults weighing up to three tonnes. Despite their hefty size, hippos have been known to reach speeds of 30mph.
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The South African farmer had also said his beloved hippo he referred to as "his pet" would come when called, frolic with him, and even let him brush its teeth. Els, who kept other wildlife such as giraffes and rhinos on his farm, believed Humphrey would return to him at the sound of his voice, describing the animal as "loveable" and akin to a "gentle giant".
"It's a little bit dangerous, but I trust him with my heart that he will not harm anybody," Els had confidently claimed.
"I can swim with him. I go in the water. He allows me to get on his back, and I ride him like a horse. He swims with me. He's like a son to me."
Tragically, the man's trust was misplaced as the relationship took a deadly turn when Humphrey attacked, resulting in Els's death.
An ambulance spokesman speaking to the Daily Mirror revealed paramedics discovered Els submerged in the river having suffered multiple bites from the hippo, though it was uncertain how long he had been in the water before being found.