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Mother tells of family's rescue from Longleat lion area: 'Of all the places - why the lion enclosure?' | Mother tells of family's rescue from Longleat lion area: 'Of all the places - why the lion enclosure?' |
(about 9 hours later) | |
A mother who had to flee her car with her two children in the middle of the lion enclosure at Longleat Safari Park has spoken of the family’s dramatic ordeal. | A mother who had to flee her car with her two children in the middle of the lion enclosure at Longleat Safari Park has spoken of the family’s dramatic ordeal. |
Helen Clements and her son George, 9, and daughter Charlie, 12, were about 100 yards from the lions when their vehicle overheated and began to smoke on Good Friday afternoon. | Helen Clements and her son George, 9, and daughter Charlie, 12, were about 100 yards from the lions when their vehicle overheated and began to smoke on Good Friday afternoon. |
“It could have been in the flamingos or the camels but no, it had to be in the lion enclosure,” Mrs Clements told the BBC . | |
The trio were rescued by rangers just moments before the car burst into flames at the wildlife attraction in Wiltshire. | The trio were rescued by rangers just moments before the car burst into flames at the wildlife attraction in Wiltshire. |
Neither the family nor any animals were injured in the incident but Mrs Clements said it was “quite frightening”. | Neither the family nor any animals were injured in the incident but Mrs Clements said it was “quite frightening”. |
The mother, of Kingswood, Gloucestershire, told the BBC that she had at first mistaken the rising smoke for steam. | The mother, of Kingswood, Gloucestershire, told the BBC that she had at first mistaken the rising smoke for steam. |
"Then basically, we thought: 'That's not steam, that's actually smoke'," she said. | "Then basically, we thought: 'That's not steam, that's actually smoke'," she said. |
"It was getting thicker and thicker and obviously coming into us, and then we saw flames." | "It was getting thicker and thicker and obviously coming into us, and then we saw flames." |
She used the vehicle’s horn to alert rangers and both she and George opened their doors. But they were told to remain in the vehicle. | She used the vehicle’s horn to alert rangers and both she and George opened their doors. But they were told to remain in the vehicle. |
"Unfortunately they [the rangers] were shouting to us: 'Get back in the car, do not get out of the car'," she said. | "Unfortunately they [the rangers] were shouting to us: 'Get back in the car, do not get out of the car'," she said. |
"It was a situation of - what do you do? Do you get out of the car because you're on fire? And they're telling you to get back in the car, so that was the dilemma." | "It was a situation of - what do you do? Do you get out of the car because you're on fire? And they're telling you to get back in the car, so that was the dilemma." |
However, within minutes the rangers pulled up alongside the smoking car in another vehicle and the family were able to climb in and be driven to safety. | However, within minutes the rangers pulled up alongside the smoking car in another vehicle and the family were able to climb in and be driven to safety. |
"I can laugh about it now as it's only a car and we're all safe," said Mrs Clements. | "I can laugh about it now as it's only a car and we're all safe," said Mrs Clements. |
"You laugh at the funny side of it now. But of all the places - why the lion enclosure?" | "You laugh at the funny side of it now. But of all the places - why the lion enclosure?" |
She added that she and her children had been unable to see the lions at the time of the incident due to other cars being in front of them. | She added that she and her children had been unable to see the lions at the time of the incident due to other cars being in front of them. |
A spokesman from the safari park said the lions were cleared from the enclosure and the park was closed. | A spokesman from the safari park said the lions were cleared from the enclosure and the park was closed. |
Eyewitness and fellow visitor George Lear told the BBC: "The lions just kept their distance and didn't take their eyes off the fire and smoke. | Eyewitness and fellow visitor George Lear told the BBC: "The lions just kept their distance and didn't take their eyes off the fire and smoke. |
"The rangers were pushing them back but they were reluctant on moving away as they looked interested." | "The rangers were pushing them back but they were reluctant on moving away as they looked interested." |
Mrs Clements said the rangers had been “fantastic”. | Mrs Clements said the rangers had been “fantastic”. |
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