S. AFRICA-TOURIST/LION Lion mauls American tourist to death in South African park

Record ID: 149652

  • Title: S. AFRICA-TOURIST/LION Lion mauls American tourist to death in South African park
  • Date: 1st June 2015
  • Summary: JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (JUNE 1, 2015) (REUTERS) (PART NIGHT SHOTS) ENTRANCE OF LION CAMP WITH WARNING SIGNS ON GATE WARNING SIGNS ON FENCE SIGN READING (English): "LION CAMP 2", WHERE WOMAN WAS ATTACKED / SIGN READING (English): "NOTICE, KEEP WINDOWS CLOSED AT ALL TIMES" MEDIA TAKING PHOTOS OF LIONS THROUGH FENCE LION PARK ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, SCOTT SIMPSO
  • Embargoed: 16th June 2015 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: South Africa
  • Country: South Africa
  • Topics: General
  • Reuters ID: LVA5ZIJEQ95XFYC8HSPEK405GNHO
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: An American tourist was mauled to death in South Africa on Monday (June 1), when a lion jumped into her vehicle through an open window at a park on the outskirts of Johannesburg, police and officials said.
    An official at the Lion Park said the woman had been taking photos of the lion when it attacked.
    "The lion then sort of lunged at the car and it bit the lady through the window. Our staff immediately rushed over to chase the lion away, and the gentleman that was driving, he sustained some injuries to his arms trying to get the lion out as well. Our staff chased the lion away and we immediately called for an ambulance and ER24 was here within minutes, but unfortunately while they were treating the lady she did pass away," Lion Park assistant director of operations Scott Simpson said.
    He added that the driver was also taking to hospital and is receiving treatment for non-life threatening injuries.
    A police spokesman did not have a name for the 22-year-old woman or what part of the United States she was from.
    Her travelling companion was South African.
    "We hand them a slip of paper at the entrance just saying please keep your windows closed, we explain to them why. But despite this it seems that the windows were still down," Simpson said.
    Last month, a lion killed a man at a zoo in the South African city of East London after he jumped into the animal's enclosure.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2015. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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