Georgia Dixon
International Travel

Aussie tourist gets knocked over by silverback gorilla

An Australian tourist has described her terror as a silverback gorilla charged at her and knocked her to the ground while she was honeymooning in Rwanda.

Gemma Cosgriff was on a wildlife tour when the 300kg ape appeared to take a fancy to her, rushing towards her and pushing her over.

Her husband, Damian, was filming the terrifying encounter, and has posted the video to YouTube.

"I was fearing for my life in that split second," Cosgriff told 9News.

However, the gorilla quickly lost interest as she cowered on the ground, shaken but unharmed.

"Even though it's really big, it's quite cushiony like a pillow, so that didn't hurt at all," she said.

Cosgriff told 9News she thought her pink t-shirt had attracted the gorilla, and fellow tourists had joked about it seeming to like her.

Not put off by the incident, Cosgriff described it as a "once in a lifetime" experience.

"I still just cannot believe that it even happened," she told 9News.

First appeared on Stuff.co.nz.

Related links:

Cincinnati Zoo re-opens gorilla exhibit with higher fence

Adorable baby gorilla born by emergency C-section

Mother of boy who fell into gorilla enclosure speaks

Tags:
animal, travel, tourist, wildlife, gorilla