A mother who tried to pull a man back from the edge of a tiger enclosure has spoken about the terrifying moment he overpowered her and jumped.
Anthony Hunt, 28, and his girlfriend Scarlet Hogan were visiting Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on Saturday when they witnessed the woman, who had two children with her, make a desperate grab for the stranger. The man, who has not been named by police, had posed for a photo with the Amur tiger named Altai in the background just moments earlier, according to eyewitness accounts. He then climbed over barriers from a viewing platform and dropped into the compound below.
“He overpowered her and jumped off. She seemed really frightened,” Hunt said. “We spoke to her after and she was like, ‘I tried to pull him back’ but I guess she didn’t want to risk her own life as well.”
Hogan described behavior that alarmed onlookers before the attack itself. “The man started praying to the tiger, bowing down to it – the tiger looked a bit confused,” she said. “Up until he got attacked, it was like he was in a trance, not in reality at all. We were just stood there, frozen.”
Emergency services received calls shortly after 1:30 p.m. On October 10. South Yorkshire Police confirmed the man was pronounced dead at the scene despite medical efforts, and his family was being supported by specialist officers. The park was fully evacuated and remained closed through Sunday, with Monday reopening plans scrapped at the last minute.
In a message sent to ticketholders on Monday morning, the park wrote: “Due to the serious incident that occurred at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday, the 10th of October, unfortunately the park remains closed for the whole of Monday, the 12th October.” The message added that anyone with bookings would be contacted within five working days to reschedule.
Videos that spread online appear to show the victim seated near Altai before the tiger began pawing and grappling with him. In one clip, the man could be heard shouting “Stop, stop, stop, stop, stop” as the animal attacked. One witness said they saw staff running around frantically and directing visitors toward exits, though employees would not explain what was happening.
The park addressed public concern about Altai’s fate in a statement on social media, confirming that “many, many people” had contacted them. The Amur tiger was “safe and well” and would not be euthanized, officials said. Staff members who witnessed the incident were described as “deeply affected” and were receiving specialist support.
South Yorkshire Police issued a direct appeal regarding the circulation of footage. “We are aware of videos circulating online and we would encourage people not to share this footage,” a spokesperson said. The same statement confirmed the tiger was uninjured and remained in the enclosure, with “no wider risk to the public.”
An animal expert who reviewed the footage later offered a theory that Altai had not initially intended to kill the man, suggesting the tiger’s behavior appeared more consistent with playing. That assessment came as visitors continued to process the chaos of the evacuation, with Hogan and Hunt among those describing how panic spread through the crowd as the scene unfolded.
The incident drew particular attention because of the mother’s intervention attempt, which Hunt said left her visibly shaken afterward. Her effort to stop the man, even briefly, stood in contrast to the trance-like state Hogan described, with the victim appearing disconnected from his surroundings as he prayed and bowed toward the animal.
South Yorkshire Police said officers remained on scene carrying out enquiries in the immediate aftermath. The force’s initial statement noted that the man’s family had been notified and that thoughts were with them “at this distressing time.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has not announced a specific reopening date beyond the Monday closure, with rescheduling processes still being managed for affected visitors.