A man has died after jumping into a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England and being attacked by the animal.
South Yorkshire Police confirmed that the incident occurred at about 1:35 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, after officers received reports of a man entering the enclosure at the wildlife park near Doncaster.
According to the police, the man sustained serious injuries in the attack but was pronounced dead at the scene despite efforts by medical personnel to save his life.
“Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene,” the police said.
The police added that the deceased’s family had been informed and was receiving support from specialist officers. The force also expressed condolences over the tragic incident.
Addressing concerns about the tiger’s condition, the police clarified that the animal was not injured and remained inside its enclosure after the incident. They also assured the public that there was no wider risk.
Following the incident, Yorkshire Wildlife Park was evacuated and announced that it would remain closed on Sunday as investigations continued.
In a statement, the park said its emergency response procedures were immediately activated after the incident, adding that it was working closely with the relevant authorities to establish what happened.
The facility also reiterated that the safety and wellbeing of its visitors, staff and animals remained its highest priority.
Meanwhile, footage circulating on social media appeared to show a man wearing a black jumper sitting on the ground inside the enclosure as the tiger attacked him.