A man who was fatally mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park asked a visitor to take his photograph just moments before he climbed into the animal's enclosure. The unidentified man approached Del Taylor, who was standing on the viewing platform at the park on Saturday (October 10), and asked: "Can you grab a shot of myself with the tiger?"
Taylor took the man's mobile phone while he posed with the Siberian tiger, later identified as Altai, clearly visible in the background. Footage captured by Taylor's partner shows the man chuckling as he said "one more, one more, one more", before adding: "Thank you, lady."
Visitor describes encounter
Taylor told The Sun: "He was completely alone. At first he was dancing on the bridge overlooking the enclosure. He ended up standing next to me. My partner was recording the tiger and you can hear me having this interaction. You can hear him asking for a photo. I took a couple of him with his back towards the enclosure. I positioned the camera so I could get Altai in it with him."
The couple then walked away, and moments later, the man climbed over the fence and entered the enclosure. Another park visitor reportedly tried to drag the victim back onto the viewing bridge, but he "pulled away from her" and went into the pen, according to a separate witness. The witness said the woman "wasn't strong enough" to hold back the unnamed man, and as a result he "pulled away from her, climbed down, and jumped about 12ft" into the enclosure.
Witness describes attack
The witness recalled: "But then the young man started yelling at the tiger and waving his finger at him, yelling, 'No', and the tiger grabbed him by the neck. It all happened very fast. The tiger staff were in there quickly, and fired two shots to the ground to scare the tiger away from the man."
The man had been dancing while using his mobile phone and wearing Apple AirPods before scaling the barrier. Onlookers stated he snapped a photograph with Altai the Amur tiger visible behind him just moments before leaping from the observation platform.
Park response and statement
Park rangers fired warning shots and "did everything they could" to prevent the tragedy, and have been offered "specialist support". Staff managed to frighten Altai by firing gas-powered acoustic devices into the air, causing him to flee to a nearby enclosure. The big cat was quickly contained, though the man was pronounced dead at the scene.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park issued a statement: "We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following [Saturday's] tragic incident. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with the family and loved ones of the man who tragically lost his life. The park will be closed while the staff team who were deeply affected by events receive specialist support. Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger. We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident."
