Man dead after Siberian tiger mauls him in front of horrified onlookers

0A man has died after being attacked by a tiger in what staff members are calling a “serious incident” -Credit:Charley Atkins / SWNS (Charley Atkins / SWNS)A man who was "mauled" by a tiger after jumping into its enclosure at a zoo in England has died after the unidentified man was quickly set upon by a massive Siberian tiger.

Footage circulating on social media captures the harrowing moment the tiger attacks from behind while the victim is kneeling on the ground. As he cries out, the tiger sinks its teeth into his back, mauling him before standing over his stricken body. The park reportedly houses two tigers — a female named Tschuna and a male named Altai — who arrived in March last year, according to the Daily Mail.

In the video, the man can be heard shouting "no" and holding up his index finger to reprimand the beast. Those watching the scene unfold can also be heard shouting.

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Yorkshire Ambulance Service responded to the wildlife park at 1:33 pm on Saturday after receiving reports of the incident. South Yorkshire Police confirmed it had "received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park," Sky News reported.

"The tiger has subsequently attacked the man, and this has resulted in serious injury," they stated, adding they were attempting to contact the man's family. A spokesperson confirmed that the tiger "remained in the enclosure" and that there was "no wider risk to the public."

Yorkshire Wildlife Park was subsequently evacuated and shut down for the rest of the weekend, according to officers and the park. The park, located near Doncaster, released a statement saying: "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," reports the Daily Star.

Eyewitness reports indicate "black screens" were put up around the enclosure after the incident. The tiger enclosure was then cleared and shut for the rest of the day.

A statement released by the park confirmed that a "serious incident" took place today at the tiger enclosure, reading: "Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated, and emergency services are currently attending the scene." Dominic Ford, a witness who reportedly visited the park this afternoon with his four-year-old niece, was ordered to evacuate.

Ford told the Daily Mail that staff appeared "calm" throughout the ordeal. An air ambulance, ambulance, and "a hell of a lot of police came," Ford added. Armed keepers reportedly discharged gas canisters to drive the big cat back into its enclosure, which has since been concealed behind a large black privacy screen.