Katherine Chappell identified as lion attack victim
The female US tourist that was mauled to death by a lioness inside a vehicle at The Lion Park in Johannesburg earlier this week has been identified as 29-year-old Katherine Chappell.
Chappell was a special effects editor who worked on an Emmy-winning episode of the popular Game of Thrones series. She also worked on Captain America: The Winter Soldier, among a host of other Hollywood films, Daily Mail reported.
She was also a wildlife conservationist, visiting South Africa at the time to raise money for a charity organisation that protects animals from poachers.
Chappell allegedly had her window open, leading to the lioness entering the vehicle. The park’s manager Andre La Cock said he arrived at the park and received news about an emergency via two-way radio.
“I just rushed and found a vehicle with a tour operator, and he had both his windows open. Inside was the woman laying in the passenger side, bleeding,” he said.
La Cock added the tour operator was sitting next to Chappel, trying to stop the bleeding.
Speaking about tourists and others not following rules, La Cock added: “It’s so unfortunate and unnecessary to lose a life out of negligence.
“We hand out pamphlets at the gate. We even got the whole park asking people, keep your windows closed … keep your doors closed. It says it in red,” he said.
According to him, lionesses are “so powerful” that even by putting in their claws in the car, “she could easily take you” and try to pull you out of the car.
Lion Park spokesperson Scott Simpson said the lioness would not be euthanised.
Read More: Lion attack: first-hand account (video)
– Caxton News Service
Read original story on citizen.co.za
