The City of Doncaster Council has confirmed the launch of an investigation into health and safety standards at Yorkshire Wildlife Park after a man was killed by a tiger on Saturday (10 October). The council is responsible for licensing the tourist attraction, which remained closed on Monday (12 October) as investigations continue into the death of the man.
Incident details
Emergency services were contacted shortly after 1.30pm on Saturday when the man entered the animal's enclosure. He was pronounced dead at the scene, South Yorkshire Police said, adding that his family have been informed. The Press Association (PA) reports the force will not be naming the man at the request of his family.
Dan Swaine, executive director of place at City of Doncaster Council, said: "As the relevant licensing authority for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, I can confirm that, in line with our statutory duties, the council has launched a health and safety investigation."
Council response
"We are also working with multiple agencies, including the police and health agencies, and are supporting the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in response to the incident," he added. "At this time, we won’t be commenting further on the individual or the investigation and we ask that the privacy of those involved is respected at this difficult time."
Mr Swaine continued: "We are deeply saddened by the incident that occurred this weekend and our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with everyone involved, including the family and loved ones of the person who tragically lost their life, those that witnessed the incident and the staff involved at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, as well as the emergency services who provided a swift response."
Park statement and public reaction
In a statement posted to social media over the weekend, the wildlife park said "many, many people" had contacted them about Altai, the Amur tiger involved in the incident, and it confirmed he is "safe and well" and will not be euthanised. It added that members of park staff were "deeply affected" by the incident and receiving specialist support.
Videos circulating online appear to show a man being pawed at and grappled by Altai in the tiger enclosure at the park. In another, it appears the voice of the as-yet-unidentified man can be heard asking people to take a photo of him with the tiger before the incident took place.
Earlier on Monday, a woman who lives near the wildlife park said she was concerned over reports the victim may have had additional needs and that people "seemed to care more about the tiger". Angela Seivewright, who went to lay flowers at the gate of the park, said she had previously seen adults with special needs in the park with carers who appeared to be "a bit distracted" and felt "sad" at much of the reaction to the man’s death.
Ms Seivewright told the Press Association (PA): "I believe that the person who was killed had additional needs. And, when I looked at social media over the weekend, when I said I hoped the person was OK, I got really bullied a lot – saying that he deserved to die."
"I have a special needs child and I think he was doing sign language to the tiger," she added. "So, it just felt it was really unfair that people were almost wishing him to die as opposed to not wanting anybody to be hurt."
It was really upsetting. My daughter goes to school next door and we live around the corner. And I just thought there would be way more flowers here.
Councillor Steve Cox, who represents the Finningley ward covering the wildlife park, told PA: "I really feel for the staff, they’ve got protocols they have to go through. It’s really sad, but I’m sure everybody did what they could."
Doncaster’s deputy civic mayor councillor Nick Allen, who represents a nearby ward, said: "We don’t know all the circumstances yet and the speculation online is obviously upsetting and unneeded." He said he had been "really shocked about the tragic incident".
Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with the Land of the Tigers attraction opening in 2011.
