South African authorities have announced the death of a beloved nature conservationist who was viciously attacked by two white lions that weight 400-pound on Wednesday.
68-year-old West Mathewson was living with the felines Demi and Tanner at Lion Tree Top Lodge which is located near Hoedspruit. He was reportedly roughly playing with the beasts in their enclosure when they turned on him.
The man’s wife tried hard to save him from the lions’ clutch but to no avail as he had already sustained fatal injuries.
“We have to realize, West was not as young as he thought he was,” the victim’s daughter-in-law said. “We are still not sure what actually happened but there was very rough play.”
