Man dies after tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

What happened at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

A man has died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the attraction at 13:35 BST following reports that a visitor had jumped into the tiger enclosure. South Yorkshire Police confirmed the tiger subsequently attacked the man, who died at the scene from his injuries.

The wildlife park was evacuated shortly after the attack occurred and will remain closed for the remainder of the weekend.

Police said the tiger was uninjured during the incident and remained inside its enclosure throughout. Officers confirmed there was no broader safety risk to the public.

How emergency services and staff responded

Yorkshire Ambulance Service dispatched a significant emergency response to the scene, including two land ambulances, a Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter and a doctor. Despite the immediate attendance of medical personnel, the man could not be saved.

South Yorkshire Police said officers have made contact with the victim's family and are providing support. Investigators remain at the park carrying out inquiries to establish how the man gained access to the enclosure.

In a statement posted on its website, Yorkshire Wildlife Park said its emergency response protocols were activated as soon as the breach occurred.

"Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated, and emergency services are currently attending the scene," the park said. "We are working closely with the authorities to ascertain exactly what happened."

The park added that the safety and wellbeing of its visitors, staff and animals remain its highest priority.

Investigation and social media warnings

Police noted that video footage of the incident had begun circulating on social media platforms shortly after the park was cleared.

Officers strongly urged members of the public not to share or view the footage online out of respect for the victim's family and those affected by the incident.

It is not yet clear how the man managed to climb or jump into the enclosure barrier, and authorities have not publicly released his age or identity.

South Yorkshire Police said officers will maintain a presence at the site near Doncaster while the formal investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death continues.