A 75-year-old man of Chibanyemba Village in Mambwe District in Eastern Province has been killed by a Hippopotamus.

Eastern Province Police Commanding Officer Robertson Mweemba said 75-year-old Tyson Sakala died after being stomped on by a Hippopotamus.

Mr Mweemba said the incident was reported to Mambwe Police Station through a telephone call by 55-year-old Bonaventure Banda.

Mr Mweemba said that the deceased was on his way to visit a patient in the neighbouring village in the company of his counterpart, 60-year-old Sunganani Zulu.

He said while the two were on their way, they encountered a hippopotamus within a short distance.

Mr Mweemba said the deceased failed to run away due to his advanced age, adding that the animal then attacked and stomped on him.

He said the victim died on the spot due to multiple injuries sustained on the right leg and head.

Mr Mweemba said that due to high water levels, which have rendered crossing points impassable, officers from the Zambia Police Service and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife failed to visit the scene of the attack.

He said police suspected no foul play and advised the family to bury and mark the grave for possible exhumation in case a postmortem was required.