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Tiger attack: Sarah McClay 'very skilled' says brother | Tiger attack: Sarah McClay 'very skilled' says brother |
(35 minutes later) | |
The brother of a zoo keeper who died after being mauled by a tiger has paid tribute to her as "very skilled and very good at her job". | The brother of a zoo keeper who died after being mauled by a tiger has paid tribute to her as "very skilled and very good at her job". |
Sarah McClay, 24, was attacked by a Sumatran tiger in an enclosure at South Lakes Wild Animal Park, near Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, on Friday. | Sarah McClay, 24, was attacked by a Sumatran tiger in an enclosure at South Lakes Wild Animal Park, near Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, on Friday. |
Cumbria Police said a tiger got from its pen to a staff area of the enclosure where it attacked Ms McClay. | |
She suffered head and neck injuries and later died in Preston Royal Hospital. | She suffered head and neck injuries and later died in Preston Royal Hospital. |
'Bubbly and fun' | 'Bubbly and fun' |
Detectives said either "human or mechanical" error could have led to the tiger being in the staff area. | Detectives said either "human or mechanical" error could have led to the tiger being in the staff area. |
"We don't know if mistakes were to blame but we do know that it was an accident," Mr McClay told the BBC. | "We don't know if mistakes were to blame but we do know that it was an accident," Mr McClay told the BBC. |
"I want coverage to be about Sarah and how her death has affected us more than I want to see coverage about who or what is maybe to blame. | "I want coverage to be about Sarah and how her death has affected us more than I want to see coverage about who or what is maybe to blame. |
"She was fun, she had a lot of friends and I expect her funeral to be really busy with a lot of friends. Everyone liked her, she was a really popular girl." | "She was fun, she had a lot of friends and I expect her funeral to be really busy with a lot of friends. Everyone liked her, she was a really popular girl." |
A spokesperson for the University of Cumbria, where Ms McClay studied, has also paid tribute and said she was a "bubbly and fun loving student" and "academically gifted". | A spokesperson for the University of Cumbria, where Ms McClay studied, has also paid tribute and said she was a "bubbly and fun loving student" and "academically gifted". |
'Routine duties' | 'Routine duties' |
Park owner David Gill said after the attack there was "no reason" for Ms McClay to be in the enclosure with the tigers. | Park owner David Gill said after the attack there was "no reason" for Ms McClay to be in the enclosure with the tigers. |
He added Ms McClay, who is originally from Glasgow, was a "very experienced" staff member who had worked with big cats and was "proficient and passionate" about her job. | He added Ms McClay, who is originally from Glasgow, was a "very experienced" staff member who had worked with big cats and was "proficient and passionate" about her job. |
Mr Gill said the Sumatran tiger, which has lived at the park since it was a cub 10 years ago, would not be destroyed. | Mr Gill said the Sumatran tiger, which has lived at the park since it was a cub 10 years ago, would not be destroyed. |
Det Chief Insp Bob Qazi, of Cumbria Police, said: "Sarah was in there carrying out her routine duties of cleaning and servicing the pens. | Det Chief Insp Bob Qazi, of Cumbria Police, said: "Sarah was in there carrying out her routine duties of cleaning and servicing the pens. |
"The animals should not be in there and that is the key focus of our inquiries as to how that animal came to be in the pen." | "The animals should not be in there and that is the key focus of our inquiries as to how that animal came to be in the pen." |