12.10.2026 10:53
A person who entered the area where the tigers are kept at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England died as a result of an attack by the animal. Witnesses said the man bowed before the tiger before the attack and made hand gestures in his final moments. While it has been alleged that these movements could mean he was trying to say "Bad" to the tiger in sign language, the claim has not been confirmed.
A person who entered the area where tigers were kept at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in the Yorkshire region of England died as a result of an animal attack. Visitors who witnessed the moments of horror said that the man made hand gestures toward the tiger during the attack, while it was claimed that these gestures may have been an attempt to communicate through sign language.
ENTERED THE AREA WHERE THE TIGER WAS
The incident occurred on Saturday, October 10, at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. An unidentified person crossed security boundaries and entered the section where the tigers were kept.
According to eyewitness accounts, the man made dancing-like movements before entering. He was then seen taking photos in the area where the tiger was and bending down to the ground.
At that time, 22-year-old Anthony Hunt and 21-year-old Scarlet Hogan, who were visiting the park, said they watched what happened in horror.
"HE KNELT AND BOWED IN FRONT OF THE TIGER"
Hunt compared the man's behavior to a show and said, "He came to a spot where everyone could see him. He got down on all fours and bowed in front of the tiger. It was as if he was waiting for the tiger." Hunt, noting that the man then spread his arms to both sides, told that after this movement the tiger attacked. The witness, who said they felt helpless during the attack, said, "I had never frozen like that before in my life. The last thing we saw was the tiger attacking his neck."
DID HE USE SIGN LANGUAGE IN HIS FINAL MOMENTS?
In footage said to be from the moments of the attack, the man's hand gestures toward the tiger drew attention. Some people claimed that by raising his index finger, the man was trying to say "No" to the animal. Others claimed that his gesture with his little finger meant "Bad" in the Makaton sign system. After these comments, claims were made that the man might be hearing impaired or autistic. However, it was not officially confirmed that the man had any disability or that he was trying to communicate with the tiger through sign language.
THE RESPONSE OF MEDICAL TEAMS WAS INSUFFICIENT
South Yorkshire Police announced that at around 13:35 they received a report that a person had entered the area where the tigers were kept. An air ambulance and two ambulances were dispatched to the area. The seriously injured man died at the scene despite all the interventions of medical teams. Police reported that the family of the deceased had been informed and that support was being provided to his relatives by specialist teams.
THE TIGER'S CONDITION WAS ANNOUNCED
After the incident, Yorkshire Wildlife Park was evacuated and closed to visitors for the weekend. It was announced that the tiger was not injured during the attack and continued to be kept in its enclosure. Police stated that investigations into the incident were ongoing and called for the attack footage circulating on social media not to be shared.