By Kuben Chetty
A 35-year-old Zululand man, who lost most of his face in a hippo attack and whose survival has been described as "miraculous", is in a stable condition in an Empangeni hospital.
Ngwelezane hospital spokesperson Peter Haselau said Funokwayo Mbonambi was in a stable condition and was responding to instructions.
"Surgeons performed a tracheotomy on him and he is breathing on his own. Although he is not able to speak, he is able to show the thumbs up signal when asked how he is doing."
Haselau said that the next step would be to move Mbonambi to King Edward VIII Hospital in Durban.
"We are waiting for the go-ahead from the specialists at King Edward who will advise us when to move him."
Mbonambi was walking home on Thursday night when he came across the hippo. It bit Mbonambi's face, taking off his nose and an eye and leaving him with severe internal injuries.
Mbonambi escaped and dragged himself to a nearby road where he flagged down a passing vehicle for assistance - and an hour's drive to the nearest hospital.