Yorkshire Wildlife Park live: Man dies after 'jumping into tiger enclosure' in front of screaming families

Yorkshire Wildlife Park live: Man dies after 'jumping into tiger enclosure' in front of screaming families Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed there had been a "serious incident" at the tiger enclosure, adding that an emergency response was underway and the site would be closed today and tomorrow A man has died after being attacked by a tiger at a UK wildlife park. Police and paramedics raced to Yorkshire Wildlife Park at around 1:35pm following reports the man had "jumped into a tiger enclosure." South Yorkshire Police said the man had suffered "serious injuries" while the tiger was uninjured and remained inside the enclosure following the attack. Witnesses told how a black screen was erected at the enclosure, with reports of "shots fired" shortly before the park was evacuated and an air ambulance arrived. Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed there had been a "serious incident" at the tiger enclosure, adding that an emergency response was underway and the site would be closed today and tomorrow. Key Events Park to stay closed all weekend Yorkshire Wildlife Park says it is "working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened" and will remain closed all weekend. In a statement released earlier, it said: We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure. Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated, and emergency services are currently attending the scene. We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened. The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority. The park is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow. 'It felt chaotic' A woman who was at the park described scenes of chaos as visitors were urged to evacuate after the man was injured. "People near us were saying how they'd been near the tiger enclosure when they'd seen a young man climbing the fence [...] where he had provoked the tigers which then retaliated," the woman, named only as Alice, told LADbible. She said the reaction was "sudden," with one member of staff running around and telling people to leave, but not explaining why. Alice added: Some saying the tigers were shot, others saying it was gas canisters to spook them into their enclosures [...] I was with friends and their young children. Thankful we weren't in the area at the time. How man entered enclosure remains unclear The circumstances behind the fatal incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park remain unclear, including how the man came to be inside the enclosure. Police said medics attended the man, but he succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. His family have been made aware and are being supported by specialist officers. Yorkshire Wildlife Park's 'Land of the Tigers' habitat The tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2011. Dubbed the 'Land of the Tigers', the area allows the big cats to roam woodlands and grasslands or play in a waterfall pool, according to a description on its website. Visitors can see the animals by walking along a 300 meter-long raised walkway. The park has two Amur tigers, an endangered subspecies with around 500 left in the wild. It's also home to a number of other wild animals, including lions, leopards, cheetahs and polar bears. Police urge public not to share distressing footage of incident South Yorkshire Police says it is aware of videos of the incident circulating online and "would encourage people not to share this footage". Officers are continuing to carry out enquiries at the scene this evening. Tiger uninjured, police say The tiger was uninjured and remained inside the enclosure following the incident, South Yorkshire Police say. A spokesperson said: Regarding rumours surrounding the condition of the tiger, the animal was uninjured and remained in the enclosure following the incident and there is no wider risk to the public. Following the incident, Yorkshire Wildlife Park was evacuated and officers remain on scene carrying out enquiries. Man dies after being attacked by tiger The man who was mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park has died, South Yorkshire Police said. A statement reads: At 1.35pm today (Saturday 10 October) we received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury. Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The man's family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time. 'There was big black tarpaulin over the tiger enclosure,' says visitor A visitor at the park noticed a "big black tarpaulin over the tiger enclosure" as she was asked to leave by staff. Karmelle Pelham, 39, from Worksop, was out with family when she heard what she believed was several gunshots before a helicopter appeared above them. "We were in a lemur enclosure and somebody asked us to start leaving," she told the BBC. "Then, all of a sudden, we were being ushered further and further into the park. "Then we saw a helicopter circling. That's when we started thinking, 'Oh, something's happened'. There was big black tarpaulin over the tiger enclosure." Everything we know so far A man has suffered serious injuries after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, where he was attacked by one of the big cats. South Yorkshire Police said they received reports of a man entering the enclosure at 1.35pm today. The tiger has remained in the enclosure following the incident and there is no wider risk to the public. Witnesses told how a black screen was erected at the scene, with others hearing "shots fired" shortly before the park was evacuated and an air ambulance arrived. Yorkshire Wildlife Park advertises a 'Tiger Experience' which invites visitors to get to know "one of the world's most compelling and powerful mammals face to face". Images from the scene Images show a large police presence at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, where a man was attacked by a tiger inside its enclosure. The man has suffered serious injuries. Air ambulance and doctor rushed to park An air ambulance and a doctor were sent to the scene this afternoon alongside other emergency vehicles, a Yorkshire Ambulance Service spokesperson said. We were called at 13.33 on Saturday 10 October 2026 to an incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster. We sent a number of resources, including two land ambulances, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor. Inside park's 'Tiger Experience' Yorkshire Wildlife Park advertises a 'Tiger Experience' which invites visitors to get to know "one of the world's most compelling and powerful mammals face to face". The activity, priced at £350 for 2 people, lets visitors explore the park's Land of Tigers, where they can "ask all about the magnificent Amur Tigers, and find out about the life of our dedicated animal rangers and how they provide and care for these mighty carnivores." The park says the experience involves "steps and uneven ground", and is suitable for a maximum of four people. 'Black screen' erected as visitors leave According to witnesses, a "black screen" was placed around the tiger enclosure as staff told them to leave the premises. Tia Hanson was at the park for a day out with a pal when at around 2pm the walkway between the tiger enclosure and the exit was closed. "When you're leaving you have to walk past the tiger enclosure and they’ve put up all sort of black tarpaulin so you couldn't really see," she said. "But there were loads of police and ambulance people and a stretcher in the enclosure as well. It wasn’t nice - there were lots of people who looked really upset." Man heard shouting 'stop' at tiger Multiple witnesses say an "agitated" male was seen to jump into the enclosure and was grabbed by one of the tigers. Video being circulated online shows a man in a black top and white trousers being mauled by the animal. He had be heard shouting "stop" at the creature while others shouted from the viewing gantry to try and distract the animal. Man 'seriously injured' after being attacked by tiger, police confirm A man has been seriously injured after being attacked by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, police have confirmed. South Yorkshire Police said they received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at 1.35pm today. The statement adds: The tiger has subsequently attacked the man and this has resulted in serious injury. Officers are working at pace to make contact with the man's family and no further detail will be provided at this time. The tiger remained in the enclosure following the incident and there is no wider risk to the public. Following the incident, Yorkshire Wildlife Park was evacuated and officers remain on scene carrying out enquiries. We are aware of videos circulating online and we would encourage people not to share this distressing footage. Witnesses hear 'shots fired' as park evacuated Witnesses have reported hearing shots being fired shortly before the park was evacuated. Some believe these were either a "gas canister" or "flash bangs" being fired into the cage. "It looks as if someone has jumped into the enclosure and they've had to shoot the tiger," one visitor told Yorkshire Live. The witness added: People are saying they heard a gunshot and they say someone either jumped in, or fell in. There was an air ambulance and police everywhere. We've all been made to leave. When you’re leaving you have to walk past the tiger enclosure and they’ve put up all sort of black tarpaulin so you couldn’t really see. But there were loads of police and ambulance people and a stretcher in the enclosure as well. It wasn't nice - there were lots of people who looked really upset. Yorkshire Wildlife park confirms 'serious incident' at tiger enclosure Yorkshire Wildlife Park has confirmed a "serious incident" at the tiger enclosure today, adding that an emergency response is underway and the site will be closed today and tomorrow. A statement on the park's website says: We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred today at the tiger enclosure. Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated, and emergency services are currently attending the scene. We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened. The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority. The park is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow.