A man who died after being mauled by a tiger at a UK wildlife park reportedly shouted haunting final words at the animal in a bid to stop the attack, as more details emerge about the tragic incident.
The man died on Saturday, October 10, after entering an enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, where an Amur tiger named Altai was being kept.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 1.30 pm, but the victim was pronounced dead despite efforts to save him.
The incident prompted the evacuation of the park, while distressing footage began circulating on social media. Police have since urged people not to share the videos, and the man’s family is being supported by specialist officers.
Witness accounts have also raised questions about what happened in the moments before the fatal encounter, with visitors describing the man’s behaviour before he entered the enclosure.
The tragedy has prompted an outpouring of concern for those who witnessed the attack, alongside discussions about wildlife safety and the future of the tiger involved.
Witnesses describe moments before the attack
The incident took place at the park’s Land of the Tigers attraction, a specially designed habitat for Amur tigers.
According to accounts reported by The Independent, the man had been watching the animal shortly before entering the enclosure.
One visitor claimed he had been listening to music through AirPods and had asked a stranger to take a photograph of him with the tiger visible in the background.
Anthony Hunt and his girlfriend, Scarlet Hogan, told The Telegraph that a woman appeared to try to stop the man as he attempted to enter the compound.
Hogan said he approached the tiger with his arms outstretched.
“Up until he got attacked, it was like he was in a trance, not in reality at all,” she told the newspaper.
Other witnesses described the terrifying scene as visitors watched the encounter unfold.
One visitor reportedly said they could see blood and described the tiger dragging the man by the neck.
Distressing footage shared online appeared to show the man on the ground inside the enclosure as the tiger approached him. The circumstances leading up to the incident, including how he gained access to the habitat, remain under investigation.
Reports also suggested that zoo staff discharged warning shots in an attempt to distract the animal. However, the precise details of the emergency response have not been fully established.
Police issue warning over disturbing footage
South Yorkshire Police confirmed that officers had been made aware of videos circulating online after the attack.
The force urged people not to share the footage, which has been widely discussed on social media.
Police also confirmed that the victim’s family had been informed and was receiving support from specialist officers.
The incident has prompted mixed reactions online, with some people questioning why the man entered the enclosure while others have called for compassion towards those affected by the tragedy.
Angela Seivewright, 47, from Bawtry, visited the park on Monday to lay flowers in memory of the man.
Speaking to the BBC, she said she had been distressed by the footage and upset by the hostility directed towards the victim.
Seivewright, who has an annual pass to the attraction, said she had been surprised by the anger expressed by some people when she said she hoped the man would be okay.
Her comments reflect the difficult conversations surrounding the incident, with questions being raised about the circumstances of the man’s actions while others have emphasised the devastating impact of the death.
Questions raised about zoo safety
The fatal attack has also prompted questions about how the man managed to enter the tiger enclosure.
Dr Campbell Murn, a former member of the government’s zoo expert committee and a lecturer at the University of Reading, told the BBC that determined individuals could sometimes breach even carefully designed enclosures.
Public safety is a key consideration in UK zoo standards, while wildlife parks also seek to provide visitors with opportunities to observe animals in environments designed around their needs.
The Born Free Foundation, which campaigns against keeping wild animals in zoos, has called for an urgent review of the incident.
Its co-founder, Will Travers, argued that displaying dangerous wild animals to the public carries risks, even where precautions are in place.
However, the full circumstances surrounding Saturday’s attack have yet to be established. It remains unclear whether the investigation will lead to changes in the park’s safety arrangements.
Who is Altai, the tiger involved in the tragedy?
Altai is an Amur tiger, also known as a Siberian tiger, an endangered subspecies native to the Russian Far East and parts of north-east Asia.
The animal arrived at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in February 2025 after being transferred from Dyreparken in Norway as part of a European conservation breeding programme.
Biologist Helene Axelsen, from the Norwegian park, confirmed that Altai was born there in 2021.
Following the fatal encounter, Dyreparken expressed its sadness and offered condolences to the victim’s family and the Yorkshire Wildlife Park team.
Amur tigers face threats in the wild, including poaching and habitat loss. Conservation breeding programmes help maintain populations in human care and form part of wider efforts to protect the subspecies.
The attack has drawn renewed attention to Altai, with members of the public expressing concern about what might happen to the animal following the man’s death.
Carole Baskin, known for her involvement in the Netflix series Tiger King, also spoke in defence of the tiger, arguing that it was behaving as a tiger would and warning against drawing conclusions before all the circumstances were known.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park remains closed
The wildlife park confirmed on Monday, October 12, that it would remain closed for a third day as investigations continued and staff received support.
A spokesperson said: “Due to the events over the weekend, the park will remain closed today. Thank you for your understanding.”
Visitors who had booked tickets for Monday were told they would be contacted within five working days with information about rescheduling their visits.
The park was evacuated on Saturday following the attack and remained shut over the weekend.
It is not yet clear when the attraction will reopen, with the investigation and the wellbeing of those affected continuing to be priorities.
What will happen to the tiger after the man’s death?
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has addressed concerns about Altai’s future, confirming that the tiger will not be euthanised as a result of the incident.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the park said it had received numerous messages from people asking about the animal’s welfare.
“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,” the statement read.
The park also expressed its sympathies to the victim’s family and loved ones.
Altai was reported to be uninjured following the attack and remained within his enclosure. No announcement has been made that he will be transferred elsewhere.
The investigation into the man’s death continues, and the circumstances surrounding his entry into the habitat have not been fully established.
The man’s harrowing final words
Distressing footage described by the Daily Star reportedly captured the man repeatedly shouting at the tiger as it attacked him.
The newspaper reported that he could be heard crying out: “Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop!”
He was also reportedly heard shouting, “No, no, no!” as visitors watched in horror.
Another person was heard calling out in an apparent attempt to distract the animal, but the attack proved fatal.
The reports of the man’s final words have added to the distress surrounding the incident. His identity has not been publicly confirmed in the reports cited, and police have urged people not to circulate footage of the attack.
South Yorkshire Police continue to investigate the circumstances of the death, while the man’s family is being supported by specialist officers.
