The attack took the life of another guide who Paul was trying to save and cost Paul his left arm. … He was left with injuries so severe, his life changed forever. Paul Templer, 49, of … The hippo left him with 39 'major' bite wounds which resulted in … Now THAT was a bad day at the office! That was until March 1996—when Paul was attacked by a rogue hippo while guiding a small group of tourists down the Zambezi River. Paul Templer was working as a tourist guide in Zimbabwe when he was attacked by a hippo. A safari guide has revealed how he was attacked by a hippopotamus and swallowed head first by the beast which left him with only one arm and 39 ‘major’ bite wounds. 49-year-old Paul Templer, an experienced safari guide, was attacked by a “monster” hippo who swallowed him head first in a terrifying assault in his native Zimbabwe, near Victoria Falls. This happened in March 1996.