Hippo stranded in South African swimming pool dies

The animal died as he was lifted out of the pool with a crane.

A three-day rescue mission has ended in tragedy after vets failed to save a young hippo stranded in a swimming pool in South Africa.

Officials from The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were forced to drain the water and sedate the five-year-old, who was trapped in the pool in Modimolle, outside Limpopo.

However the animal died as he was lifted out of the pool with a crane.

He had been stuck in the pool since Tuesday, after being chased from the neighbouring game farm by its herd after the birth of a new calf.