World

Zoo worker mauled to death by tiger

17:16 pm on 25 May 2013

A British zoo worker attacked by a tiger has died of her injuries.

Sarah McClay, 24, was attacked by a Sumatran tiger in an enclosure at South Lakes Wild Animal Park, near Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, on Friday local time.

She died at Royal Preston Hospital where she had been taken with head and neck injuries.

Park owner David Gill says there was no reason for Ms McClay to be in the enclosure but for inexplicable reasons she opened a door and walked in.

"We have very strict protocols and procedures for working with big cats," Mr Gill told the BBC, "but it seems she failed to follow correct procedures."

Mr Gill says Ms McClay had worked with big cats and was very experienced at her job, but staff should have no direct contact with tigers.