In 1989, 21-year-old Omer Norton was killed at the park. This isn't the first time an elephant has injured a person at the park. The website says the park has been part of important research on Asian elephants and has participated in breeding 30 species that are considered endangered and 20 species that are considered threatened. Online, African Lion Safari touts its work in conservation and breeding wildlife, and lists its elephant herd as one of its major attractions. The 750-acre park is home to a herd of 16 Asian elephants, the largest herd in any North American zoological facility, according to its website. "At this time we have no further details to share as we are actively gathering information."Ī man in his 30s was airlifted to Hamilton General Hospital with serious injuries. "African Lion Safari can confirm that we had an incident this afternoon involving one of our elephants and an employee, who has been transported to Hamilton General," she wrote. Park general manager Trish Gerth provided CBC News with a statement just before 4:30 p.m. Police spokesperson Jackie Penman said details about the elephant involved and what led up to the incident would have to come from the ministry and park.Ī spokesperson for Ornge air ambulance said their London-based helicopter transported a man in his 30s to Hamilton General Hospital with serious injuries. The Ministry of Labour says it's assigned an investigator to the case. The Ministry of Labour has been contacted.- police tweeted about the attack just before 3:40 p.m., saying a patient has been airlifted to hospital. The patient has been airlifted to hospital. “There are numerous signs, and we hand out slips of paper to all guests warning them to keep their windows closed.Hamilton Police have responded to a call at African Lion Safari in #HamOnt after a trainer was attacked by an elephant. “That’s absolutely forbidden at our park,” said Scott Simpson, assistant operations manager at Lion Park. Opening windows is a big no-no at Lion Park. But it wasn’t in time to save Chappell, who died at the scene. He may also have suffered a heart attack, Kalabash Tours said.Īfter the lion backed off, Chappell was left bleeding profusely from her neck, and Potgieter applied constant pressure to try to stop it, the tour company said.Īn ambulance arrived within minutes, the park said. Potgeiter said he tried to fend the lion off, suffering injuries to his arm as he did so. The animal then lunged at the car, biting the woman through the open window. The lion stopped about a meter from the vehicle as Chappell continued taking pictures, a Lion Park statement said. Witnesses in other vehicles honked their horns, trying to get the attention of Chappell and Potgieter as the animal got nearer, according to a source close to the investigation, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Inside the lion enclosures, they stopped to view a group of the animals.Īt that point, Chappell “rolled down the passenger window in order to take photographs,” according to Potgieter’s company, Kalabash Tours.īut she apparently didn’t notice that one of the lions was approaching the vehicle from the side. An investigation by authorities is underway.ĭriver describes lion attack that killed an American touristĪ South African tour operator, Pierre Potgieter, 66, was driving Chappell around the park. Our hearts and prayers go out to her family,” said Scott Miller, studio manager at Scanline VFX, in a statement sent to CNN.ĭetails are still emerging of what happened June 1 at the South African preserve. “Kate was a valued member of our team and we are devastated by the loss. Most recently she was employed by visual-effects firm Scanline VFX, where her team won an Emmy for its work on an episode of the fourth season of “Game of Thrones.” “She was very much loved and shared her love for life with those she met,” her family said.Ĭhappell was a visual-effects engineer who had worked on such movies as “Godzilla,” “Divergent” and “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” according to her Internet Movie Database profile. “Her energy and passion could not be contained by mere continents or oceans.”Ī memorial service was held Saturday in her hometown of Rye, New York. “Katie was a brilliant, kind, adventurous and high-spirited woman,” a family member said in a Facebook post. Lion attacks American tourist through open window
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