The Chronicle

VICTORIA Falls, Saturday, June 24, 1967 — Mr Charles Graeme Young, of 71, Balmoral Drive, Durban North, was killed by a charging bull hippo today on Kandahar Island, a tiny resort on the Zambezi River about six miles from Victoria Falls.

Mr Young aged about 40, was with his wife and about 50 other tourists on the island when the tragedy occurred. Reports from Victoria Falls said his son, Colin, in Pretoria, has been informed. No one else was hurt.

Members of the party described how Mr Young was found lying mortally wounded near the main party. The hippo is believed to have rushed from the water, moved 70 yards to attack Mr Young, and then returned to the river.

A Ministry of Information spokesman gave the time of the incident as 3.50PM.A nurse among the group was unable to save Mr Young, and a launch left immediately for a land bay about a mile upriver, where a mission doctor was collected and brought to the island. Mr Young is believed to have died within minutes of the attack. Local residents have been shocked by his death. The island — a quarter of a mile wide and 800 yards long- has always been considered absolutely safe.

It is popular picnic spot and is often visited by local people at weekends. Reports of the attack are confused.

It was first thought the hippo charged out of the bushes and attacked Mr Young as it headed for the water, but an official report said the animal is believed to have moved from the water. Police are continuing their investigation