A man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England was seen dancing with headphones on shortly before the fatal encounter, eyewitnesses have said....
A man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England was seen dancing with headphones on shortly before the fatal encounter, eyewitnesses have said
The incident, which occurred on Saturday afternoon, has prompted a health and safety investigation, while the park remains closed as authorities examine the circumstances surrounding the death.
One witness, Alex Underwood, said the man had approached him and his girlfriend on a raised walkway overlooking the tiger enclosure and asked her to take photographs of him.
“We were on the tiger bridge and I spotted him — he was dancing with his earphones on,” Underwood told Sky News.
He said the man requested additional photographs before thanking the couple and leaving.
Underwood and his girlfriend later heard that someone had entered the enclosure and recalled the man they had encountered moments earlier.
Another witness, Anthony Hunt, who was visiting the park with his girlfriend, Scarlet, said they were photographing a tiger named Altai when they noticed a sudden change in the animal’s behaviour.
“We noticed the tiger’s behaviour change. Its eyes locked on to something in the enclosure. We thought maybe he’s getting fed,” Hunt said.
He added that they then spotted a man inside the enclosure through the camera lens.
According to Hunt, the man went down on all fours, appeared to pray and looked towards the sky as the tiger approached him.
Hunt described the man as appearing to be “in a trance” and seemingly unaware of his surroundings.
The couple later spoke to a woman who reportedly attempted to stop the man from entering the enclosure but was unable to pull him back.
The victim was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts by emergency medical personnel.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers received reports of a man entering the enclosure before the tiger attacked him, causing fatal injuries.
“Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene,” the police said.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed that the tiger, Altai, was safe and would not be euthanised following the incident.
Animal keeper Reece Oliver told Sky News that the approximately 200kg tiger might have been acting on its predatory instincts rather than deliberately attempting to kill the man.
“If it really wanted to kill him, it would have probably killed him within 10 seconds,” Oliver said.
He explained that the animal would normally expect only food or enrichment toys to enter its enclosure.
Oliver added that the encounter might have begun as play or an exploratory response but ended in a fatal attack.
The park said its emergency response procedures were activated immediately and that staff members affected by the incident were receiving specialist support.
The City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety investigation, while the park remains closed.
UK Foreign Secretary and Doncaster North MP Ed Miliband expressed sadness over the death and offered condolences to the victim’s family.
“I send my thoughts and deepest condolences to the family of the individual who died. I am very grateful to the emergency services and staff of the park who responded,” he said.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009, with its Land of the Tigers attraction launching in 2011.
The enclosure is a two-acre reserve for Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies whose wild population is estimated at about 500.
The park also houses lions, giraffes, leopards and black rhinos.