A 2-year-old boy survived a hippo attack near his home in southwestern Uganda, the BBC reported.

Iga Paul was playing near the shores of Lake Edward when he was attacked by the animal.

Local police report that the hippo swallowed half of the child's body.

A man who witnessed the attack saved the child by throwing stones at the animal.

A wildlife conservation organization in Uganda denied to the BBC the police claim that the child had been swallowed by the hippo.

According to them, it was simply attacked.

The small child was taken to a nearby medical center, where he received first aid.

He was later transferred to another hospital where he was given a rabies vaccine.

They pulled a whole alligator out of a python's stomach

According to police, this is the first time a hippo has left Lake Edward and attacked a person.

These animals weigh up to 1.5 tons and reach a length of about 50 cm - the third largest land mammals.

They are herbivores, but can become extremely aggressive when they feel threatened – around 500 people in Africa are attacked by hippos every year.