Woman who took final photograph of man with tiger says ‘he was so pleased’ as she fights tears
Del Taylor was one of the last people to interact with the man who died following a tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, and has now issued an emotional update addressing online speculation about the tragic incident
Altai the tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park(Image: SWNS)
Del Taylor was among the final people to speak with the man who was fatally mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park over the weekend. She has released a new statement addressing online speculation and pleading with people to “take a moment to think”.
The man, whose identity remains undisclosed, plunged 12ft into the tiger enclosure, where he was set upon and killed by Altai, a 30 stone Amur tiger. He was heard crying: “No, no, no” and “Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop” as the beast grabbed him by the throat.
The park shut its doors on Sunday and remained closed yesterday following the horrific incident.
Police at the park after the incident(Image: SWNS)
He had accessed the enclosure from a walkway overlooking the animal after “pacing around” in the vicinity and behaving oddly, according to a couple who witnessed the harrowing scene unfold. The park was evacuated as police and emergency crews raced to the location.
Officers confirmed the man sustained “serious injuries” before being declared dead at the scene.
Del Taylor, who was at the park with her boyfriend, was amongst the final visitors to speak with the man. She described how she was approached by the young man, who asked her: “Can you grab a shot of myself with the tiger?”
She told The Sun: “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 tiger enclosure from above(Image: SWNS)
Del has now provided an update on the heartbreaking incident. She turned to TikTok yesterday to post a two-and-a-half minute video for her followers, filmed from inside a car.
In her video she states: “I’ve seen a lot of speculation online about this person, this man, and a lot of it is not very nice, very presumptuous. I just wish people would take a moment to think about why maybe he’d do something like this.”
She proceeded to recount the moments leading up to the tragic event, saying: “He was so happy and then he’s come and placed himself next to us and he passed me his phone and he asked me for a photo. If you’d have seen him… you would understand why I’m saying what I’m saying.”
She confirmed she has spoken to the police and added: “It’s so upsetting to think that apart from that awful viral video of him being attacked by the tiger online that the last photo of that man probably alive is the one that i’ve taken on his phone for him. But, I’m just asking people to keep a broader mind on what’s happened.”
She wrapped up her video by stating: “This is all I’ve got to say on the matter and there is going to be a social media silence from me until this dies down now.”
A health and safety probe has been initiated into the tragic death of a man mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, confirmed by the site’s licensing authority, City of Doncaster Council.
The Health and Safety Executive previously stated it would not be investigating the incident, confirming that the council would take the lead in the investigation.
The park has assured that Altai, the tiger involved, will not be put down following this incident. It remains unclear when the park will welcome visitors again.
