Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, remains closed after a man climbed into a tiger enclosure and was fatally attacked by one of the animals on Saturday.
Emergency services were called to the park at approximately 13:30 BST following reports that a man had entered the enclosure. The man died at the scene. His family has been informed and is being supported by specialist officers.
An eyewitness, Ella Ford, 24, from Moreton, Wirral, said she had been visiting the park with her boyfriend and filmed the tiger shortly before the attack. She described seeing a man near the enclosure "pacing around with his headphones in" before he climbed onto the barriers.
"He jumped in and crawled in front of the tiger, where the tiger was perched and just lay there," Ford said. She then witnessed the tiger grab hold of the man, who she said was "shouting for help."
Ford estimated that around 15 to 20 people were on the enclosure's raised visitor walkway before staff quickly evacuated the area and, shortly afterwards, the entire park.
Another visitor, Karmelle Pelham, 39, from Worksop, said she had been on a family day out when staff told them the site was being evacuated. She said she heard what sounded like "gunshots" and saw an air ambulance circling overhead. She also noted "a big, black tarpaulin over the tiger enclosure." Pelham praised park staff for their handling of the incident, describing it as "very, very well organised."
South Yorkshire Police confirmed the man's death and said there was no wider risk to the public. Officers urged members of the public not to share footage circulating online that appeared to show the man inside the enclosure. "We are aware of videos circulating online and we would encourage people not to share this footage," the force said.
A park spokesperson confirmed that the Amur tiger involved in the attack, named Altai, remained in the enclosure and would not be euthanised. The spokesperson said many people had contacted the park about the tiger and that he was "safe and well." Staff present at the scene, described as "deeply affected by events," would receive specialist support.
In a statement on its website, the park said its emergency response procedures had been "immediately activated" and that it was "working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened." The park added: "The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority."
Foreign Secretary and MP for Doncaster North Ed Miliband said he was "deeply saddened" to hear of the incident and extended his "thoughts and deepest condolences to the family of the individual who died." He added that he was "very grateful to the emergency services and staff of the park who responded."
Lee Pitcher, MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, also expressed his condolences and gratitude to emergency services, saying he was "deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident that has taken place at Yorkshire Wildlife Park today."
Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened in 2009. Its Land of the Tigers attraction, a purpose-built two-acre reserve, opened in 2011. The reserve is home to Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, an endangered subspecies with approximately 500 individuals remaining in the wild. A raised walkway, 300 metres long, allows visitors to watch the tigers roam through woodland and grassland and play in a waterfall pool.
