“Thank you, lady.”
Those were reportedly the last words the man was heard saying before he climbed into the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park — moments after asking a stranger to take his picture with the animal in the background.
Witnesses have now spoken about the terrifying events that unfolded at the Doncaster wildlife park on Saturday, October 10, when the man entered the enclosure containing Altai, an Amur tiger.
Emergency services were called shortly after 1.30pm. The tiger attacked the man, and despite efforts by emergency personnel, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have confirmed that his family has been informed.
One witness, Del Taylor, was standing on the viewing platform when the man approached her and asked if she could take a photo of him with the tiger behind him.
Jumped 12 feet
According to Manchester Evening News, Taylor agreed and used his phone to take several pictures. Her partner was also filming at the time, capturing the man laughing and asking for “one more, one more, one more” before thanking her.
That simple “Thank you, lady” would reportedly be the last thing he said before the situation took a horrifying turn.
Shortly afterward, the man moved away from the viewing platform and climbed over the barrier into the enclosure.
Anthony Hunt and his girlfriend, Scarlet Hogan, were visiting Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday when they witnessed the terrifying moments unfold.
Speaking to The Telegraph, they said a woman who was with her two children desperately tried to stop the man as he attempted to get into the tiger enclosure.
According to Hunt, the man managed to overpower her before jumping roughly 12 feet from a bridge into the enclosure.
Once inside, Scarlet Hogan said his behavior became even more disturbing.
“The man started praying to the tiger, bowing down to it – the tiger looked a bit confused,” she recalled. “Up until he got attacked, it was like he was in a trance, not in reality at all.”
Another witness said the man eventually knelt in front of the tiger before yelling at it and waving his finger.
Then, everything happened within seconds.
“The tiger grabbed him by the neck,” the witness recalled, saying zoo staff quickly intervened and fired warning shots to scare the animal away.
Disturbing footage of the incident has since circulated online, but South Yorkshire Police have urged people not to share it.
Witnesses described people screaming from the viewing platform as staff rushed to respond. Some visitors were visibly distressed as the park was evacuated, while emergency crews treated the scene.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park later said its staff had “done everything they could” to protect the man and prevent the tragedy from escalating.
The tiger, Altai, was not injured and was not euthanised following the attack.
The park remains closed as investigations continue.
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