Hamerton Zoo visitors evacuated after 'serious incident'

Hamerton Zoo visitors evacuated after 'serious incident'



A zoo has been evacuated following eyewitness reports of a keeper being mauled by a tiger.



Police and the air ambulance confirmed they were called to a 'very serious incident', while MailOnline understands an adult has suffered life-threatening injuries.



Claims circulated on social media that the animal was on the loose at Hamerton Zoo in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, but this was rubbished by police and park officials.



Victoria Northover Holmes, who was at the tiger enclosure when the drama unfolded, said staff were throwing meat at the tiger to get it away from a keeper.



She said: 'I was taking photos of them in the field then they came directly to the fence at this point some of the keepers came running down the hill towards the next tiger enclosure.

'We didn't know what was happening but they looked worried. I carried on walking down the hill towards the next enclosure when someone shouted run.

'A group of us ran into the keepers rooms for about ten minutes until a keeper said we could leave.

'At this point we understood by the reactions of the staff that something was going on inside the enclosure.



'We could see staff members on the other side of the fence with pieces of meat trying to get whatever's attention. It was heartbreaking seeing them trying to help.'

A spokesman for Cambridgeshire Constabulary said: 'Officers were called at around 11.15am to reports of a serious incident at Hamerton Zoo Park.

'Officers attended the scene along with ambulance crews and Magpas (Mid Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service air ambulance).

The claims of a tiger having escaped came after Kevin Fernandez said on Facebook: 'Just been at Hamerton Zoo… one of the tigers escaped... never run so fast in my life... they closed the zoo, ambulance turned up; I think someone got bitten.'



He later added: 'We just see everyone running out (of) the tiger bit and all the staff was shouting 'run, get out'... we had to leave the zoo.

'A boy was missing, loads of ambulances turned up… not quite sure what happened, one of the tigers got out though.'

Witness Jessica Russell tweeted: 'I shouldn't leave the house... Try to go to Hamerton Zoo and all hell breaks loose. Evacuated and air ambulance/police/ambulances.'

And Jeff Knott‏ added: 'Not sure what 'serious incident' at Hamerton Zoo was today, but very impressed with calm professional staff during evacuation. Hope all OK.'

Another person who was at the zoo, Charlie Hawthorn, told Mirror.co.uk: 'When we were going into the zoo there were zookeepers came rushing over telling us there'd been a serious incident and everyone needed to get out.

'There was one woman saying a teenage boy was missing and it was just absolute chaos. There were three ambulances, an air ambulance helicopter, police, it looked like a big incident.'

'I was taking photos of them [the tigers] in the field then they came directly to the fence at this point some of the keepers came running down the hill towards the next tiger enclosure.



'We are unable further information available at this time, however, we can confirm that no animals have escaped and members of the public are safe.'

A Magpas spokesman said: 'At 11.34am today, the Magpas air ambulance landed in a public place near Sawtry in Cambridgeshire, after the Magpas enhanced medical team were called to a very serious incident.

'An EEAST Ambulance Service paramedic crew and two rapid response vehicles were also in attendance, alongside the police.'

The park, which was described as 'the most environmentally-friendly zoo in Europe' in 2014 and has an adult admission price of £14, has been closed for the day.

A Hamerton Zoo spokesman said: 'I can confirm that no animal has escaped, no tiger is on the loose.'

In 2008, a Cheetah escaped from the same zoo and was found by a nine-year-old boy in his back garden.