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Sarah McClay inquest: Zoo owner 'fired rifle' at tiger | Sarah McClay inquest: Zoo owner 'fired rifle' at tiger |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The owner of a zoo where a tiger mauled a keeper to death has described how he fired a rifle at the animal after the attack. | The owner of a zoo where a tiger mauled a keeper to death has described how he fired a rifle at the animal after the attack. |
Sarah McClay, 24, died in May last year after a male Sumatran Tiger left her with deep wounds at the South Lakeland Animal Park near Dalton-in-Furness. | Sarah McClay, 24, died in May last year after a male Sumatran Tiger left her with deep wounds at the South Lakeland Animal Park near Dalton-in-Furness. |
An inquest heard David Gill fired a rifle at the animal as it was standing over her motionless body. | An inquest heard David Gill fired a rifle at the animal as it was standing over her motionless body. |
The shot scared it into the tiger house so emergency services could get to her. | The shot scared it into the tiger house so emergency services could get to her. |
'Ran like crazy' | 'Ran like crazy' |
Zoo owner Mr Gill told how he ran to the scene when he heard on the park radio the tiger, called Padang, "had got Sarah". | Zoo owner Mr Gill told how he ran to the scene when he heard on the park radio the tiger, called Padang, "had got Sarah". |
He made his way to the side of the enclosure armed with a rifle but could not get a clear shot. | He made his way to the side of the enclosure armed with a rifle but could not get a clear shot. |
He said: "I took real good care to look at Sarah. She didn't move at all. She was completely still." | He said: "I took real good care to look at Sarah. She didn't move at all. She was completely still." |
A colleague radioed him to say she had a view of the tiger and Miss McClay from the penguin walkway, so he "ran like crazy" to get there. | A colleague radioed him to say she had a view of the tiger and Miss McClay from the penguin walkway, so he "ran like crazy" to get there. |
Mr Gill told the jury: "Again I couldn't get a clean shot without the risk of shooting her. I decided to take a shot at the top of the tiger's shoulder. | Mr Gill told the jury: "Again I couldn't get a clean shot without the risk of shooting her. I decided to take a shot at the top of the tiger's shoulder. |
"At the moment the rifle went off the tiger just ran off straight back into the tiger house." | "At the moment the rifle went off the tiger just ran off straight back into the tiger house." |
The inquest in Kendal heard on Tuesday the animal went through an open door into a corridor where Miss McClay, from Glasgow, was working before dragging her by the neck into the den. | |
The tiger enclosure included a "dark den" and a "light den" and featured lockable self-closing doors to keep animals separate from keepers. | The tiger enclosure included a "dark den" and a "light den" and featured lockable self-closing doors to keep animals separate from keepers. |
'Defective bolt' | 'Defective bolt' |
Mr Gill founded the zoo, now known as South Lakes Safari Zoo, and designed the tiger house himself. | Mr Gill founded the zoo, now known as South Lakes Safari Zoo, and designed the tiger house himself. |
He said it was subject to major inspections every six years and roughly annual spot checks. | He said it was subject to major inspections every six years and roughly annual spot checks. |
He said no one had ever raised concerns about its design. | He said no one had ever raised concerns about its design. |
Barrow Council's senior environmental officer, Owen Broadhead, said on Monday a bolt on the door between the dark den and the keepers' corridor was found to be defective after the attack. | Barrow Council's senior environmental officer, Owen Broadhead, said on Monday a bolt on the door between the dark den and the keepers' corridor was found to be defective after the attack. |
But he said the damage could have been done by emergency services trying to access the scene. | But he said the damage could have been done by emergency services trying to access the scene. |
The hearing continues. | The hearing continues. |
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