Yorkshire Wildlife Park: Man mauled to death was first member of public killed by tiger in UK history
All previous attacks have involved zookeepers and staff
The man mauled to death by a tiger at Doncaster’s Yorkshire Wildlife Park was the first member of the public in UK history to be killed by one of the animals.
The unnamed victim died after entering The Land of the Tigers enclosure on Saturday afternoon where he was fatally attacked by rare Amur tiger Altai.
The man’s death is the seventh in UK history where people have been killed by tigers - with all previous deaths involving zookeepers or workers.
The first was in 1703, with the latest before Saturday’s tragedy taking place in 2017.
Hannah Twynnoy is widely recognised as the first person killed by a tiger in Great Britain in 1703.
A barmaid at the White Lion Inn in Malmesbury she was mauled to death after teasing a tiger kept in a traveling menagerie exhibition.
In 1980, zookeeper Brian Stocks was killed at Howletts Wild Animal Park in Kent by Siberian tigress Zeya.
Just one month after Mr Stocks' death fellow keeper Bob Wilson was killed by the exact same tiger while performing routine cleaning duties alongside two colleagues.
The tiger was shot following thesecond incident.
The third death at Howletts occurred in November 1994 when zookeepter Trevor Smith was killed inside an enclosure.
In May 2013, zookeeper Sarah McClay was killed by a Sumatran tiger at South Lakes Wild Animal Park, Cumbria while in May 2017, keeper Rosa King died following an attack at Hamerton Zoo Park in Cambridgeshire.
Doncaster’s Yorkshire Wildlife Park has been closed since Saturday’s tragedy as police and City of Doncaster Council investigations into the death continue.
An eyewitness described seeing the man wearing headphones and "pacing around" near the enclosure before he went in and was attacked. Police have confirmed that he was attending the park alone.
South Yorkshire Police said the man died at the scene and his family were being supported by officers. "Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time," the force said.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park said the tiger remained in the enclosure and would not be euthanised.
Flowers have been laid at the park’s gates while Doncaster’s mayor Ros Jones and and the city’s MPs have also paid tribute following the man’s death.
Yesterday, City of Doncaster Council confirmed a health and safety investigation had been launched.