Lion drags man into enclosure in front of terrified tourists
A safari park owner has miraculously survived after he was mauled by a lion in its enclosure in front of shocked onlookers.
Horrifying footage shows Mike Hodge, 67, attacked by the male lion at Makarele Predator Centre in Thabazimbi, in South Africa, on Monday.
Mr Hodge can be seen entering the enclosure of the giant cat, Shamba, before retreating to a metal gate as the lion darts towards him.
After a tussle at the entrance, Mr Hodge is dragged across the grass before being left lying motionless on the ground. The lion then drags him out of sight behind a bush as screaming bystanders watch on.
One man can be heard shouting for someone to find a rifle.
Mr Hodge, originally from the UK, was rushed to hospital after suffering neck and jaw injuries but was recovering well, The Sun reported.
A friend of Mr Hodge revealed the park’s owner was investigating a strange smell inside the enclosure when the attack happened.
“Mike and one of his rangers were a little concerned about a smell in a compound that was upsetting one of the lions and had gone in through the gate to see what was causing it,” he said.
The friend, who wished not to be named, reiterated Mr Hodge was “no fool around lions” following criticism of his actions on the park’s Facebook page.
It is believed Shamba was put down during the incident.
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According to the park’s website, Mr Hodge and his wife, Chrissy, moved to South Africa in 1999 before beginning a lion project in 2003.
Their attentions later turned to the Makarele Predator Centre, which they opened in 2010. It has remained closed since the incident.
