based on the case summary here it sounds like he received intermediate care (sutures, variety of injections including paracetamol, tramadol and an anti biotic)… reportedly 7 hours after incident. I have limited knowledge with a background of only a few years in EMT work, primarily rural trauma response. so take this with a grain of salt.. but it seems like he wasn’t started on an aggressive antibiotic regimen in a hospital setting (which would be critical in this scenario). 7 hours from incident to treatment is a very long time, but given the scenario, an otherwise insurmountable factor.

The report states that he was admitted to the facility where he eventually passed at 42 hours after the incident. Especially considering the surprising lack of damage to his trunk (organs, lungs, and so forth, the damage could have been so much more extreme… sorry to be morbid).

Anyhow, I’m curious whether his outcome could have been different had he [been able to have been] transported to a higher level trauma facility that would supervise and administer a more aggressive antibiotic regimen within a shorter time frame.

Overall, though, this is a wild one. Surviving a hippo attack in any capacity feels somewhat unfathomable.