Yorkshire Wildlife Park tragedy as tiger kills man who entered enclosure - investigation continues
The investigation into the tragedy continues
A major investigation is underway after at Yorkshire Wildlife Park after a young man was mauled to death by a tiger in front of horrified visitors.
Shocking video of incident circulating online captured the man, who has not yet been named, on the grass in the Land of the Tigers enclosure, where the tiger struck shortly after 1.30pm on Saturday, October 10.
Onlookers screamed as the tiger initially circled and then attacked.
Visitors were evacuated from the park and said they could hear a number of shots being fired.
Black screens were erected around the enclosure in the aftermath of the incident.
Police, paramedics and a doctor raced to the scene and an air ambulance was also deployed.
Despite their best efforts the attack proved fatal but the tiger survived.
The shots fired were understood to have been to encourage the tiger to retreat from the casualty so that wildlife park workers and medics could safely enter and try to save the young man.
The wildlife park was shut in the aftermath of the attack on Saturday and remained closed on Sunday, October 11 for the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy to continue.
South Yorkshire Police said: “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.
“Following the incident, Yorkshire Wildlife Park was evacuated and officers remain on scene carrying out enquiries.
“We are aware of videos circulating online and we would encourage people not to share this footage.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park said: “We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today (Saturday, October 10) at the tiger enclosure.
“Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated, and emergency services are currently attending the scene.
“We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened.
“The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority.”
Yorkshire Ambulance Service said a number of resources were deployed including two land ambulances, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor.
Tia Hanson was at the park for a day out with a pal when at around 2pm the walkway between the tiger enclosure and the exit was closed, she said.
She said at the time: “People are saying they heard a gunshot and they say someone either jumped in, or fell in.
“There was an air ambulance and police everywhere. We’ve all been made to leave.
“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.
“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.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park describes the The Land of the Tigers enclosure as an area where “magnificent big cats” can freely roam the woodlands and grasslands or play in their very own waterfall pool.
It is a two acre complex of reserves.