Roland Cherry, recounting his experience, stated, "I do remember thinking: Oh no, what a way to go I'm not ready to die. I thought this was it, because nobody survives hippo attacks." He expressed how he felt in the moment of the attack, sensing death was imminent, highlighting the usually fatal nature of such encounters.
After being dragged underwater, Cherry described the panic of being released and the violence of the hippo's attack, saying, "I was grabbed again and thrown through the air like a rag doll." This imagery illustrates the sheer power of the hippo and the terrifying experience he endured while struggling to survive.
Despite his severe injuries, Cherry held no grudges against the hippo, stating, "I was conscious we were in their territory but I'm not very fond of what the hippo did to me." This shows an understanding of the wild animal's behavior and his ability to separate his experience from a primal instinct of the creature.
Shirley Cherry, Roland's wife, managed to swim to safety while he struggled with injuries, illustrating the chaos of the moment: "The canoe capsized and Roland dislocated his shoulder and was unable to swim, so he was really a sitting duck, trying to swim with one arm." This highlights the panic and helplessness during the encounter.
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