A keeper was killed by a tiger at Hamerton Zoo Park in England, the BBC reported, and the zoo said there appeared to have been a freak accident.

Rosa King was killed when a tiger entered the enclosure where she was working.

She was described as a ‘lovely lady’ who was ‘absolutely passionate’ about the animals in her care, a friend said.

Garry Chisholm, 59, a wildlife photographer in his spare time who knew Ms King through visiting the attraction in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, said the zoo revolved around the keeper.

The zoo, located in the county of Cambridgeshire in eastern England, said it would remained closed while there was a full investigation and it hoped to announce further details as soon as possible.

 

“At no point during the incident did any animals escape their enclosures, and at no point was public safety affected in any way,” the zoo said in a statement that made no mention of a tiger.

“A tiger had entered an enclosure with a keeper. Sadly the female zoo keeper died at the scene,” police said, according to the BBC.

Cambridge Police tweeted: “We attended an incident at Hamerton Zoo Park today. We are unable further info at this time but we can confirm that no animals have escaped.” They added that members of the public were safe.

Mid Anglia General Practitioner Accident Service said in a statement:  “At 11:34am today (29th), the Magpas Air Ambulance landed at a Zoo near Sawtry in Cambridgeshire, after the Magpas enhanced doctor and paramedic team was called to a very serious incident. “An East Ambulance Service paramedic crew and two rapid response vehicles were also in attendance, alongside the Police.

For any further information, please contact Cambridgeshire Police.” Hamerton Zoo said: “Our staff are too distressed to speak directly to the media as one of our colleagues was killed this morning. This appears to be a freak accident. “A full investigation is currently under way and we hope that more details can be announced as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, Police have said that the tiger involved in the death of a keeper at Hamerton Zoo Park has not been put down following the incident. Many people had expressed concern for the animal after the ‘freak accident’ that led to the death of Rosa King.