Yorkshire tiger latest: Woman ‘tried to pull tiger attack victim back’ before he jumped into zoo enclosure

Yorkshire tiger latest: Woman ‘tried to pull tiger attack victim back’ before he jumped into zoo enclosure South Yorkshire police said the man sustained serious injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene - Bookmark - CommentsGo to comments Become an Independent member to bookmark this article Already a member? Log in A mother attempted to stop the man who was killed by a tiger from jumping into its zoo enclosure, witnesses have said. Anthony Hunt and his girlfriend Scarlet Hogan, who were visiting Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday, told The Telegraph that the woman “desperately tried to pull back” the victim as he tried to jump into the compound. The man overpowered the woman, who was with her two children at the time, and leapt from a bridge into the tiger pen, Mr Hunt told the newspaper. “The man started praying to the tiger, bowing down to it – the tiger looked a bit confused,” Ms Hogan said. “Up until he got attacked, it was like he was in a trance, not in reality at all.” “He had arms wide open ready for the tiger to attack him. It was quite bad. We were just stood there, frozen... the last thing we saw was the tiger’s jaw on his neck,” she added. Did you see what happened? Contact [email protected] Yorkshire Wildlife Park expected to open after fatal tiger attack Yorkshire Wildlife Park is expected to open on Monday after a man was fatally attacked by a tiger when he entered the enclosure on Saturday. Emergency services were contacted shortly after 1.30pm on 10 October 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. 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. According to the Press Association, the park is expected to open on Monday but it is unclear whether the tiger enclosure will be open as normal. Man killed by tiger posed for photo with animal before climbing into pen - witnesses The man who was killed after climbing into a tiger enclosure had posed for a picture with the animal in the background before entering the pen, witnesses have said. Witnesses have described how the man appeared to be “psyching himself up” and “dancing” while listening to music through his AirPods before entering the enclosure. "The man who I saw on the bridge with his AirPods in dancing was happily enjoying seeing the tiger,” one woman said. “He obviously wasn't with anyone and he asked a total stranger to take a picture of him with the tiger in the background. "Probably the last photo on his phone. I'm not sure if he was with a carer or family member but I honestly do think he just wanted to play with the tiger.” Context: Tiger who attacked man in Yorkshire enclosure ‘was endangered species who had joined from zoo in Norway last year’ The tiger involved in Saturday’s incident arrived at the park in March 2025, travelling over 1,135 miles from his previous home at the Norwegian Zoo, Dyreparken, according to Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Speaking at the time, director of animals, Charlotte MacDonald said: “We are delighted with Altai. He is a beautiful, huge cat and very calm and receptive, his keepers at Dyreparken have clearly done a great job with him. She added: “He is very curious and interested in what is going on and I am sure he will be a massive hit with our visitors.” Read the full story: Tiger who attacked man in Yorkshire enclosure pictured for first time Zoo shares sympathies with family of man who lost his life Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Sunday expressed their thoughts and sympathies with the family of the man who sadly lost his life at the zoo this weekend. “We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following yesterday's tragic incident,” they said in a statement. “The park will be closed today while the staff team who were deeply affected by events receive specialist support,” the statement added. “Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger. We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident.” Zoo remains closed for the weekend, reopening unclear The zoo said on Saturday it would remain closed for the remainder of the weekend, confirming on Sunday intentions to stay closed through the day. In their latest statement, the zoo says: “The park will be closed today whilst 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.” It remains unclear whether the zoo will reopen on Monday morning from current communciations. Police urge people not to share footage on social media Police have urged people not to share distressing footage of the incident circulating on social media. In a statement, South Yorkshire Police said it is “aware of footage circulating online” and asked people not to engage with it. Mother 'tried to stop man from jumping into enclosure' - witnesses A mother attempted to stop the man who was killed by a tiger from jumping into its zoo enclosure, witnesses have said. Anthony Hunt and his girlfriend Scarlet Hogan, who were visiting Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday, told The Telegraph that the woman “desperately tried to pull back” the victim as he tried to jump into the compound. The man overpowered the woman, who was with her two children at the time, and leapt from a bridge into the tiger pen, Mr Hunt told the newspaper. “The man started praying to the tiger, bowing down to it – the tiger looked a bit confused,” Ms Hogan said. “Up until he got attacked, it was like he was in a trance, not in reality at all.” “He had arms wide open ready for the tiger to attack him. It was quite bad. We were just stood there, frozen... the last thing we saw was the tiger’s jaw on his neck,” she added. Recap: Visitor recounts hearing gunshots as helicopters circled overhead Karmelle Pelham, from Worksop, told the BBC she was on a family day out at the park when it was evacuated. She said they were in a lemur enclosure when they were told to leave, before being ushered “further and further into the park”. They heard what sounded like several gunshots before seeing helicopters circling overhead. “There was big black tarpaulin over the tiger enclosure,” she recounted, adding that staff handled the incident well. “They did a great job of getting us out without panicking anyone.” Witness heard four gunshots before air ambulance arrived One witness, named only as Becky told The Mirror on Saturday that she was at the zoo with her children when they were evacuated due to the incident in the tiger enclosure. “We were at the tiger enclosure 10 minutes before the incident happened,” she says. "We heard four gun shots, but didn't think anything of it until we heard the air ambulance trying to land and then one of the park staff approached us and told us we had to leave the park.” Recap: Man reportedly 'psyched himself up' with dance before entering enclosure, witnesses say Witnesses have said the man killed after entering a tiger enclosure on Saturday had been seen “psyching himself up” listening to music and dancing beforehand. One witness told the Mail on Sunday the man, who had a mobile phone and was wearing AirPods, appeared to 'psyche himself up' by performing a 'dance' in the spectator area. Speaking to The Mirror, one woman said she saw him dancing with his AirPods in around 20 minutes before the horror incident. "The man who I saw on the bridge with his AirPods in dancing was happily enjoying seeing the tiger,” she said. “He obviously wasn't with anyone and he asked a total stranger to take a picture of him with the tiger in the background.” "Probably the last photo on his phone. I'm not sure if he was with a carer or family member but I honestly do think he just wanted to play with the tiger.” Join our commenting forum Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Comments