Boy mauled by hippo as he bathes by the shores of Lake Victoria

Kenya: A youth sustained serious injuries after he was attacked by a hippopotamus while bathing on the shores of Lake Victoria Sunday morning.

The boy, identified as Bigon Zacharia, was mauled by the beast as he took a bath at Tagache-Kapanga beach in Muhuru Bay at around 7am.

The incident pushed the locals to hunt for the animals, which according to them are many and uncontrolled by the Kenya Wildlife Service, leading to serious human-wildlife conflict in the area.

According to a witness, Barack Otieno, the boy's screams attracted the public who upon responding found him already badly injured and unconscious with blood oozing from the injuries he sustained to the stomach, head, back, thighs and his private parts.

Mr Otieno said the hippo ruptured his stomach and back such that the intestines were found exposed and lying on the ground.

He was rushed to Tagache Hospital.