Ryan Bold received 23 staples to the back of his head where he was mauled by the cub.

He also received three staples on his left arm and an open wound on his index finger had to be stitched his mom Dayle told www.mobserver.co.za after the attack.

Both the lodge owner, Mr Willie Fourie, and Mbidi’s veteran animal handler, Mr John Wagenaar, blame Ryan for the attack because he ran in the tiger’s enclosure.

“Visitors are told before entering the enclosure not to run because the cats will definitely chase,” Wagenaar told www.mobserver.co.za.

Ryan was accompanied by his mom, sister Ashleigh and her boyfriend Theo Johnson.

Dayle kicked and punched the 6 month old cub, but the cat would not let her son go.

A volunteer rushed over to pry the cub’s jaws open from Ryan’s head and Wagenaar says that Ryan has him to thank for his life.

Mr Fourie says that the Bolds all signed indemnity forms and that they entered the enclosure at their own risk.

The incident was not reported to the authorities and Mr Fourie says that the attack will not affect any holding permits.

Ryan returned to Durban on Thursday, after the family came up to Dullstrrom to visit Dayle’s sister for the holiday.

Dayle says they are all very traumatised by the event though no permanent injury was suffered.

Mbidi says Ryan was tended to by a level one first aider and lodge personnel also accompanied the Bolds to hospital where his wounds were cleaned and stitched.

Mr Fourie says a fully grown tiger weighs more than 450kg and that the cub only followed its natural hunting instincts when Ryan broke the rules and started running.