Jacob, a chimpanzee at a local zoo, has become an unexpected hero after saving a zookeeper’s life during a sudden medical emergency.
Footage from the zoo’s security cameras reveals the dramatic incident. The zookeeper was tending to an enclosure when, in a brief moment when staff were out of sight, he suffered a stroke. He collapsed face-first into shallow water, unconscious and unable to move. With no one immediately nearby, the situation quickly became dangerous.
The video shows Jacob noticing the motionless human and acting without hesitation. The chimpanzee approached, lifted the zookeeper’s head and upper body out of the water, and repeatedly pressed on his chest. Moments later, colleagues arrived to take over emergency care.
Medical professionals later clarified that while Jacob was not intentionally performing CPR, his actions likely prevented the zookeeper from being submerged for too long and may have helped maintain some circulation until trained responders arrived. Zoo staff emphasized that Jacob had no prior training—his response was entirely instinctive, immediate, and remarkable.
Now recovering, the zookeeper has spoken about the incident with gratitude and humor. “Jacob is definitely going to earn a lot of treats when I return,” he joked, thankful for the chimpanzee who stepped in at the exact moment it mattered most.