Chilling Video Captures Moment Man Mauled to Death by Tiger in Yorkshire Zoo After Jumping into Enclosure

A man who entered a zoo tiger enclosure and was mauled by the animal has died, according to police. Shocked visitors filmed the unidentified man climbing into the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday. Emergency crews were dispatched after the attack was reported, with two road ambulances and a helicopter sent to the scene.

Police said the man died from his injuries. Authorities are believed to have fired gas canisters to drive the tiger back into its enclosure. A black screen has since been erected around the area, while witnesses reported hearing at least five shots. The tiger was unharmed and remained inside the enclosure after the attack.

Family in Trauma after Attack

South Yorkshire Police said, “Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. The man’s family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time.”

A police spokesperson said there was no wider threat to the public.

The wildlife park near Doncaster is home to two Amur tigers: a 17-stone female named Tschuna and a male called Altai, who arrived at the park in March last year.

The park was evacuated and will remain closed for the rest of Saturday and throughout Sunday.

Videos shared on social media show a man in a black sweatshirt kneeling with his arms spread wide as a tiger attacks him from behind. The animal bites him on the back before mauling him on the ground and standing over him.

The unidentified man is then heard repeatedly shouting “stop” while pointing a finger at the tiger. A second video shows the animal playing with the man and pinning him to the ground with its paws.

Dominic Ford, who was visiting the park that afternoon with his four-year-old niece, said staff instructed visitors to evacuate and appeared “calm.” Ford said an air ambulance, an ambulance and “a hell of a lot of police came.”

Onlookers Shocked

Another visitor, Tia Hanson, told The Star that she and a friend were at the scene when staff closed the walkway linking the tiger enclosure to the exit.

“It looks as if someone has jumped into the enclosure. People are saying they heard a gunshot and they say someone either jumped in, or fell in. When you’re leaving you have to walk past the tiger enclosure and they’ve put up all sort of black tarpaulin so you couldn’t really see.”

The wildlife park confirmed that a “serious incident” had taken place at the tiger enclosure and said its emergency response procedures were activated immediately.

The statement read: “Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated, and emergency services are currently attending the scene. We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened. The safety and wellbeing of our visitors, staff and animals remain our highest priority. The park is now closed and will remain closed tomorrow.”

Yorkshire Ambulance Service said it received a call at 1:33 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, about an incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster.

“We sent a number of resources, including two land ambulances, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and a doctor,” the service said. South Yorkshire Police said they would not release further details at that time.