A man has died after being mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, South Yorkshire Police (SYP) have confirmed. The man entered the enclosure shortly after 1.30pm on Saturday and was attacked by the tiger, prompting an emergency response.
Despite the efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. His family has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers, the force said.
Witnesses describe terrifying scenes
Midwife Amy Wright, 36, was at the park with her husband and two children, aged six and three. She told The Sun: “You could see the blood where the tiger had dragged the man. Someone who saw it said it had him by the neck.”
“There was a lot of blood. People were shouting to try and distract it. We heard the gunshots. There were two, one after the other in quick succession. We headed for the exit but to get there you have to pass the tigers’ enclosure,” she added.
Wright also described seeing three police officers at the enclosure entrance, standing close to three female keepers sitting on the floor, one with her head in her hands.
Park evacuated after incident
Tia Hanson and her friend were at the zoo when the walkway between the tiger enclosure and the exit was closed. She said: “It looks as if someone has jumped into the enclosure.”
“People are saying they heard a gunshot and they say someone either jumped in, or fell in. When you’re leaving you have to walk past the tiger enclosure and they’ve put up all sort of black tarpaulin so you couldn’t really see,” Hanson added. “But there were loads of police and ambulance people and a stretcher in the enclosure as well. It wasn’t nice. There were lots of people who looked really upset.”
Videos circulating online appear to show a man being pawed at and grappled by a tiger in an enclosure at the park. The tiger was uninjured and remained in the enclosure after the incident, while the park was subsequently evacuated, the force said.
Police confirm no wider risk to public
A police spokesperson said: “At 1.35pm today (Saturday 10 October) we received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury.”
“Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The man’s family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers,” the spokesperson continued. “Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time. Regarding rumours surrounding the condition of the tiger, the animal was uninjured and remained in the enclosure following the incident and there is no wider risk to the public.”
