A zookeeper was dragged to the ground and eaten alive by a pride of lions in Thailand.
The attack happened at Safari World Bangkok when 58-year-old Jian Rangkharasamee stepped out of his jeep in the lion enclosure.
Witnesses said a lion crept up from behind before pouncing on him. Several other lions then quickly joined in to tear at his flesh.
Visitors honked their car horns and shouted in an attempt to scare off the lions, but the animals mauled Rangkharasamee to death as tourists looked on in horror.
Professor Tavatchai Kanchanarin, a doctor at a leading hospital, saw the tragedy unfold at around 11am on Wednesday.
He said: “The lion attacked the zookeeper while he was getting out of his car.
“It was about 10 metres away, then slowly approached and grabbed the zookeeper from behind, dragging him to the ground and biting him.
“Three or four other lions then joined in with biting the zookeeper.
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“Many people witnessed the incident but didn’t know how to help. They honked their own car horns and shouted for help.”
He added the ordeal lasted around 15 minutes before staff managed to reach the victim.
Rangkharasamee, a veteran keeper who had worked with lions for nearly 30 years, was rushed to Intrarat Hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival, according to Nation Thailand.
