Footage appears to capture a man's tragic question before he was killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The man 'scaled the fence' and entered the Land of the Tigers enclosure at 1.30pm on Saturday, before he was set upon by the animal.
Emergency services descended on the scene and zookeepers desperately tried to stop the attack but the man was tragically pronounced dead. His family has been informed, police have said.
Final recorded moments
In what is believed to be the final known recording of the victim before he entered the tiger enclosure and was fatally mauled, he asks bystanders to photograph him. In the clip, the man approaches a couple and asks, "Can you grab a shot of me with the tiger?".
The camera remains focused on the tiger within its enclosure, and the man's face is not visible. A woman agrees to assist, before he can be heard requesting "one more". He thanks her before the recording ends. This is thought to be the last known footage of him before he entered the enclosure.
Further videos circulating on social media appear to show a man being seized and overpowered by the tiger within an enclosure at the park, located near Doncaster. Authorities have urged the public not to share this footage.
Witnesses' horror
Emergency services raced to the scene before a "black screen" was subsequently erected around the enclosure. An insider said: "Shots were fired into the air to make a noise and distract the tiger. The animal wasn't shot and is absolutely fine and not injured."
"The barriers are huge. You would have to really want to get inside the enclosure to be able to do it. From start to end the incident was over within minutes. The keepers did everything they could. It's horrific."
One visitor revealed she had observed the victim's behaviour just 20 minutes before he leapt into the Amur tigers' two-acre enclosure. She said: "Twenty minutes before today's tragic incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park this tiger was sat enjoying the sunshine. The man who I saw on the bridge with his AirPods in dancing was happily enjoying seeing the tiger. He obviously wasn't with anyone and he asked a total stranger to take a picture of him with the tiger in the background."
"Probably the last photo on his phone. I'm not sure if he was with a carer or family member but I honestly do think he just wanted to play with the tiger."
Visitor Tia Hanson said: "It looks as if someone has jumped into the enclosure. 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. They put up all sort of black tarpaulin so you couldn't really see."
What police and park bosses have said
A police spokesperson said: "At 1.35pm today (Saturday October 10) 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. 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."
A Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesperson confirmed that two land ambulances, Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor were dispatched to the scene.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park first opened its doors in 2009, with the Land of the Tigers attraction following in 2011. The attraction is set within a purpose-built two-acre reserve for Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with approximately 500 remaining in the wild.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park's statement following the incident read: "The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority.
"The park is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow."
Tickets are still available for entry to the park from Monday onwards.
