Yorkshire Wildlife Park to stay closed at present after deadly tiger assault incident
Yorkshire Wildlife Park will remain closed on Monday following a horrifying incident in which a man was mauled to death by a tiger after climbing into the enclosure on Saturday
Yorkshire Wildlife Park said it will remain closed for the whole of Monday(Image: Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA Wire)
Yorkshire Wildlife Park said it will remain closed for the whole of Monday as investigations continue into the death of a man who was attacked by a tiger when he entered its enclosure on Saturday.
Emergency services were contacted shortly after 1.30pm on October 9 when the man entered the enclosure and was set upon by the tiger. He was pronounced dead at the scene, South Yorkshire Police have said, adding that his family were informed.
In a statement on social media on Sunday, the wildlife park said “many, many people” had contacted them about Altai, the Amur tiger involved in the incident, and it confirmed he is “safe and well” and will not be euthanised.
The tiger on the day of the attack(Image: SWNS)
It added that members of park staff were “deeply affected” by the incident and received specialist support. The park was evacuated soon after the incident and remained closed on Sunday.
It was reported that the zoo was set to reopen to the public today (Monday) however, the park has confirmed it will remain closed for the whole day while investigations continue.
In a message sent to ticketholders on Monday morning, the park said: “Due to the serious incident that occurred at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday, the 10th of October, unfortunately the park remains closed for the whole of Monday, the 12th October.
The park has confirmed it will remain closed for the whole day while investigations continue(Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)
“Anyone with a booking for this date will be contacted within the next five working days with details of how to reschedule your booking. We apologise for the late notice any inconvenience caused.”
Meanwhile, some people present at the zoo at the time said the man desperately “tried to use sign language” to tell the beast what it was doing was “bad!” in the midst of the horror attack. Some witnesses claim the man was “obviously autistic and deaf”.
In shocking footage circulating online, the fatal tiger attack victim is seen being thrown around by the 30-stone animal as eyewitnesses “freeze” and don’t know what to do upon seeing the horror unfold. The video, which police have asked not to be shared online, shows the young man desperately signing something to the tiger.
The fatal tiger attack victim is seen being thrown around by the 30-stone animal(Image: Charley Atkins / SWNS)
While some have suggested the victim was pointing at the animal with his index finger as to scold the tiger by saying “no!”, others have speculated that he was actually pointing with his little finger. In Makaton sign language, this means “bad!”.
This has left some believing the man may have had some kind of special needs, despite witnesses suggesting he was there alone without any carers. Others say he appeared to “bow down” to the beast. He was supposedly seen “dancing” as to “hype” himself up before entering the site.
Anthony Hunt, 22, a university graduate, and Scarlet Hogan, 21, a pharmacy worker, were enjoying a day out when the tragedy unfolded. Ms Hogan revealed the man appeared to take selfies before “getting on the floor and starting to pray” after entering the pen. Hunt said: “It looked like a performance.
Altai the tiger will not be euthanised as a result(Image: Yorkshire Wildlife Park / SWNS)
“He got down where everyone could see him in the main viewing area. He was on all fours, praying and bowing down to the tiger. It was like he was waiting for the tiger.”
Hunt described how the man gestured towards the tiger in his final moments, saying: “He had his arms wide open like he was saying: ‘Come here, tiger. Kill me.’ Then the tiger came and started to attack him.”
“He started to fight back and screamed. It was like he was just detached from reality. The last thing we saw was the tiger on his neck.” Mr Hunt said: “I have never frozen before in my life, but I just froze.”
The emergency services were called to the scene at 1.35pm on Saturday, with an air ambulance alongside two ambulances attending. The park was closed all weekend following the horrific incident.
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