Zoo Admits Breaches Over Keeper's Tiger Death

A safari park has pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches after a keeper was killed by a Sumatran tiger in May 2013.

Sarah McClay, 24, was pounced on in the keeper's corridor of the tiger house at South Lakes Wild Animal Park in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria.

The company, now known as South Lakes Safari Zoo, entered guilty pleas at Preston Crown Court to contravening the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 in relation to the day of the tragedy.

The company admitted that it failed to ensure the health, safety and welfare at work of employees, including Miss McClay, in connection with the keeping of big cats.

It also pleaded guilty to failing to ensure that people it did not employ on that date were not exposed to risk to their health and safety.

The prosecution offered no evidence against the firm's sole director, David Gill, 55, who faced individual charges on the same allegations, and formal not guilty verdicts were recorded against him.

Sentencing will take place at Preston Crown Court on Friday.

Following the hearing, Miss McClay's boyfriend, David Shaw, said: "It's a shame it took this long to come to what was a fairly obvious conclusion but I am pleased we do not have to go through a trial."

Miss McClay suffered deep puncture wounds to the neck, the back of her body, both arms and her left foot, a post-mortem found.

Bruising and abrasions to her head and back were consistent with her being dragged along the ground, the inquest heard.

Padang the Sumatran tiger got to Miss McClay by entering two open internal sliding gates within the tiger house and then an open door that led on to the corridor.

Her mother, Fiona McClay, told the inquest into Sarah's death that her daughter had worked at the park for about three years and it was her "dream job".

By Sky News Photo:  Sky News