BREAKING NEWS: Zoo keeper is killed by a tiger after a door was left open in 'freak accident' as terrified visitors hear 'blood-curdling screams'

A zoo keeper has died in a 'freak accident' following reports that someone had been mauled to death by a tiger.

Police and the air ambulance confirmed they were called to a 'very serious incident' at Hamerton Zoo in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire this morning. 

Claims circulated on social media that a tiger was on the loose at Hamerton Zoo in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, but this was rubbished by police and park officials.

Visitor Pete Davis told how he believes a young female keeper may have been injured after running into the tiger enclosure to help a colleague.

 

One of the zoo's tigers (pictured) is seen as it prowls along the perimeter fence of its enclosure

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Police at Hamerton Zoo in Cambridgeshire after an serious incident believed to involve a tiger

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Visitor Pete Davis told how he believes a young female keeper may have been injured after running into the tiger enclosure (pictured) to help a colleague

He described hearing a girl's 'blood-curdling scream' moments after she ran into the keep after hearing shouting from another keeper.

Mr Davis, 55, said: 'There's no doubting it was a girl's scream and something terrible had happened. It sounds like a tiger turned on her.

'She had run into the enclosure after hearing one of her colleagues shouting and moments later all hell let loose.

'She let out a blood-curdling scream and then another keeper ran out and shouted "run".

'It was a case of total panic. There were keepers rushing about throwing about buckets of meat to try and get the tigers under control.'

He added: 'They ushered us away to another building where they made us stay for around ten minutes but you could see the keepers with their heads in their hands.