Speculation has been spread about the victim after footage of the horror incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park was shared online, it prompted police to issue a statement on if he was there alone or not
The unnamed victim of the horrifying incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park may never be publicly identified as speculation has mounted other the circumstances about his actions to enter the tiger enclosure. The man was seen by witnesses appearing to be happy and requesting a photo moments before he entered.
Emergency services were contacted shortly after 1.30pm on Saturday (October 10) to the Doncaster-based zoo when the man entered the enclosure and came face to face with the tiger.
Footage shared online of the incident shows the man being pawed and grabbed by the tiger. He was pronounced dead at the scene, with South Yorkshire Police adding his family have been informed.
Circumstances around the incident are still being investigating, including by police and City of Doncaster council, but this has not ended rumours regarding the victim.
Victim may never be named publicly – He was ‘alone’
The male victim, who some witnesses describe as being in his 20s, may never be named publicly after South Yorkshire Police will not be naming the man at the request of his family, according to Press Association. However, that situation could change as tributes to the man were left at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Police also confirmed after some online comments suggested he had been left unattended by a carer that “It is not believed that the man who died at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park was being accompanied by anybody.”
Witnesses also described the man’s last moments as he was heard in one clip politely asking a fellow visitor to the park for a photo.
Del Taylor claims the man approached her, requesting she snap a picture of him with the tiger visible behind. Speaking to the Sun, she told the publication she agreed to the request.
Video footage captured by Ms Taylor’s partner shows the man chuckling as he requested another photograph, repeating: “One more, one more, one more.” He then expressed his gratitude, saying: “Thank you, lady.”
‘Used sign language to talk to animal’
There have been several reports online suggesting the man “tried to use sign language” to tell the beast what it was doing was “bad!”. Most comments came from people with experience of Makaton, that uses that uses speech and hand gestures to communicate.
Some witnesses also claimed the man was “obviously autistic”, but this has yet to be officially confirmed and is based on guests at the park describing him and video footage.
It comes as eyewitnesses described the harrowing final moments of the man, as he appeared to “bow down” to the beast. Witnesses also described watching him reportedly “dancing” as to “hype” himself up before entering the site.
Angela Seivewright, a local resident, went to lay flowers at the gate of Yorkshire Wildlife Park, which remained closed on Monday after the fatal incident over the weekend.
She said she had previously seen adults with special needs in the park with carers who appeared to be “a bit distracted” and felt “sad” at much of the reaction to the man’s death. Ms Seivewright said: “I believe that the person who was killed had additional needs.
“And, when I looked at social media over the weekend, when I said I hoped the person was OK, I got really bullied a lot – saying that he deserved to die. I have a special needs child and I think he was doing sign language to the tiger.!
Actions inside the enclosure – Last words
There have been several witness acoounts to the man’s alleged the actions with the incident occuyring on a busy Saturday for the park. As well as fellow guests claiming to see his hand signals to the tiger, others said the man appeared to pray as he enterted the enclosure.
Anthony Hunt, 22, a university graduate, and Scarlet Hogan, 21, a pharmacy worker, watched the horror incident as they visited the park. Ms Hogan revealed that the man appeared to take selfies before ‘getting on the floor and starting to pray’ after entering the pen.
She said: “It looked like a performance. 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 claimed 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.”
However, it emerged yesterday that he reportedly shouted one word five times as the big cat repeatedly pounced at him in front of horrified families with children.
Harrowing footage captured the man screaming: “Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!” He was also reportedly heard crying out: “No, no, no!” Witnesses also reportedly saw blood as the man was tragically “grabbed by the neck” during the tiger’s attack.