A terrified antelope ran into a river in an attempt to escape the clutches of a pack of wild dogs - only to run into two much more fearsome predators.
Two massive hippos in the Khwai River in Botswana lay waiting for the helpless impala and were not going to let it go without a fight.
One of the powerful animals snapped its jaws around the tiny creature, before both of them came crashing down on its body to try and drown it.
After being tossed around in the water, the lucky antelope was able to escape the huge creatures and get back to dry land.
Professional wildlife photographer Hannes Lochner, 43, captured the images in the Okavango Delta region, in July last year.
He said: 'This is the kind of scene I love to capture.
'It was a great story to watch unfold and I was relieved it came to a happy ending.
'I don't think this kind of event has ever been pictured before. It's certainly not something you see every day.
'After its struggle, the impala was left with just a bite on its leg.'
South African photographer Hannes took the images after watching a group of impalas run from a pack of wild dogs.
The event was not isolated as reportedly an hour earlier another impala had ran into the water, but was drowned and killed by the ruthless hippos.
In addition to this, a less fortunate antelope was eaten by a crocodile in the river, while another managed to get away completely unscathed.
(dailymail.co.uk)
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