It was a story that gripped the nation - a five-year-old boy who was knocked unconscious when he fell into a zoo's gorilla enclosure and was touchingly protected by a giant male silverback named Jambo, who stood guard as the pack of apes circled.
Now, 30 years after the iconic video footage made headlines around the world, Levan Merritt has shared his memories of that fateful day to MailOnline - and revealed how he cannot wait to take his two children back to the place that shaped him as a person.
The incident, on August 30 1986, had a profound impact on his life - from developing a permanent relationship with Jersey Zoo, to dealing with bullies at school who teased him with jibes such as 'Tarzan' and 'gorilla boy', to calling on the dramatic story as he impressed his wife-to-be, Amanda.
And the events that could have left such traumatic scars have done nothing to diminish his love of animals - including gorillas.
On the first day of their family holiday in Jersey, Levan slipped and fell 20ft down into the gorilla pit at the zoo
As Levan lay sprawled out on the ground, Jambo and the other gorillas came over to inspect
The 7ft tall 18 stone silverback male, Jambo, peered over to look at Levan who lay motionless on the concrete
In the remarkable incident that followed, Jambo stroked his back and protected him from the circling pack
Jambo then stood protectively over Levan, as he lay unconscious on the floor after the nasty fall
Levan's family screamed at him to remain still as he started to stir - his cries scared the gorillas away
As Levan lay crying on the ground, Jambo led the pack back into their little house in the corner of the pen
Ambulanceman Brian Fox (pictured) jumped down into the enclosure, and then tied himself and Levan with a rope to haul themselves out of the enclosure
Levan was the second youngest of four raised in a close-knit family in Horsham, West Sussex.
In the summer of '86, the Merritts had taken a trip to Jersey for a family holiday.
Via - Daily Mail
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