Zookeeper dies after she is mauled by a tiger

 

Tragic ... Sarah McClay

Keeper attacked in cage

By PAUL SIMS 

A WOMAN zookeeper has died after being mauled by a tiger in front of visitors after entering its enclosure. 

Tragic ... Sarah McClay

The giant beast attacked Sarah McClay, 24 — sinking its huge fangs into her head and neck and sending her into cardiac arrest.
Medics battling to treat her horrific injuries performed CPR and revealed they “managed to bring her back” following yesterday’s attack.
She was flown to hospital by helicopter but was pronounced dead at around 8pm.
David Gill, the owner and founder of South Lakes Wild Animal Park, said Sarah was very experienced in looking after big cats and he had no explanation as to why she had entered the enclosure.
He told BBC Radio 5 Live: “After investigation by the authorities here and the police, it does seem that she just basically failed to follow the correct procedures.
“For some unknown reason, an inexplicable reason, because there is no reason for why she did it, she opened the door and went into the tiger enclosure and straight into the tigers, and now we’ll never know why.”
Mr Gill said Ms McClay, who was from the Barrow area, had worked at the wildlife park for a number of years and was “very proficient” in her work with big cats. 
He said that it was against strict safety protocols to walk into the tiger’s cage, adding that the zoo had passed a major inspection on Monday, in which it was praised for its safety standards.
Mr Gill said: “An emergency call went out over the radio and we responded immediately. I was on the scene within 30 seconds.
“It was just unfortunate that everything happened so quick. It’s so difficult to talk about because it was so upsetting.
“We moved all the public back of course. I think one member of the public did witness a part of the attack but I don’t think there was anyone else who saw that.”
Armed cops were called to South Lakes Wild Animal Park in Cumbria just after 3.45pm.

Fearsome ... a tiger

It was feeding time for the big cats and shocked visitors looked on in horror as Sarah was attacked.
A North West Ambulance spokesman said Sarah — who was taken to the Royal Preston Hospital in Lancashire — “had very traumatic injuries and had been very badly mauled”.
Police and Barrow Borough Council have launched an investigation.
The park attracts 500,000 visitors annually and was set up ten years ago by animal nutritionist David Gill, 42. It is the headquarters of the Sumatran Tiger Trust.

Horror ... South Lakes Park

North News & Pictures

Regular visitor Ray Guselli said: “The system for feeding appeared, until today, to be almost foolproof.”