Visitors at Yorkshire Wildlife Park have described the moments before a man entered a tiger enclosure and was fatally mauled, with witnesses claiming he had been dancing, asking strangers to take photos of him near the animal and pushing past a woman who tried to stop him.

The incident occurred on Saturday, October 10, at the wildlife park in England. The man, whose identity had not initially been publicly released, entered the enclosure housing Altai, a Siberian tiger. Emergency services responded, while park staff reportedly used sonic deterrents in an attempt to drive the animal away.

South Yorkshire Police later confirmed that the man died at the scene. The zoo said Altai was safe following the incident and would not be euthanized.

Witnesses Describe the Man’s Behavior Before the Incident

Several visitors told British media that the man appeared to be acting unusually shortly before entering the enclosure.

Ella Ford, 24, who was visiting the park with her boyfriend, told the BBC that she saw the man pacing with his headphones in before he climbed over the barriers.

“He climbed up onto the barriers,” she recalled, describing how he subsequently jumped into the enclosure and crawled in front of the tiger.

Other visitors offered similar accounts of his behavior before the fatal incident.

Anthony Hunt and his girlfriend, Scarlet Hogan, told The Times that they saw the man walking quickly and dancing when they arrived at the zoo. Hogan later told The Telegraph that he appeared to have his phone out and seemed to be taking selfies.

Another visitor, Marie Miller, told The Times that the man appeared to be enjoying the sight of the tiger. She said he seemed to be alone and had asked a stranger to photograph him with the animal in the background.

Woman Reportedly Tried to Pull Him Back

Hunt and Hogan also described the moments when the man entered the enclosure. According to their account, he climbed onto a wooden railing and launched himself over it, pushing past a woman who attempted to pull him back.

The man then fell an estimated 15 feet to the floor of the enclosure, according to the witnesses.

Hunt said the scene looked like a performance, describing how the man moved on all fours and appeared to bow or pray in front of the tiger.

“He got down where everyone could see him in the main viewing area,” Hunt said. “He was on all fours, praying and bowing down to the tiger. It was like he was waiting for the tiger.”

The accounts have added to the growing picture of the moments leading up to the fatal encounter, although the circumstances surrounding the man’s actions remain under investigation.

Distressing Footage Circulates Online

Videos purportedly showing parts of the incident have circulated widely on social media. According to The Times, footage captured the man shouting “stop” and “no, no” while holding up a finger toward Altai. Other people nearby could reportedly be heard shouting in an apparent attempt to distract the tiger.

Some observers have suggested that the man’s hand gesture may have been the Makaton sign for “bad.” Makaton is a communication system that uses speech alongside signs and symbols and is used by some people with learning disabilities. However, the interpretation of the gesture has not been confirmed.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has urged the public not to share the distressing footage.

“We are aware of videos circulating online and we would encourage people not to share this distressing footage,” a park spokesperson previously told PEOPLE.

Zoo Closes as Police Investigate

Yorkshire Wildlife Park closed following the incident and remained shut as of Monday, October 12, while authorities worked to establish exactly what happened.

A statement on the park’s website said it was cooperating with the relevant authorities and emphasized that the safety and well-being of visitors, staff and animals remained its highest priority.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed that the man’s family had been informed of his death and were receiving support from specialist officers.

The zoo also confirmed that Altai was safe after the incident and would not be euthanized.

As investigators continue examining the circumstances surrounding the tragedy, the accounts from visitors have offered a clearer picture of the moments before the man entered the enclosure, while important questions about the incident remain unanswered.

Source: Compiled from various sources