Bar manager mauled to death by three lions in front of pal: 'It was like something out of a horror movie'

By Ian Evans
Last updated at 4:39 PM on 1st November 2010

A bar manager has been mauled to death by three lions at a game park after claims he had been taunting the beasts with a friend.

Witnesses saw Jan Bredenhand grabbed by one of the cats and dragged into the animal enclosure after he climbed onto a gate pole.

They said the 30-year-old was torn apart in a scene that looked like ‘something out of a horror movie’.

His traumatised friend, known only as Simon, immediately ran for help, flagging down motorists and knocking on doors screaming: ‘Please help me, my friend is being eaten by a lion’.

But Bredenhand, from Worcester in the Western Cape, stood no chance in the attack which took place at 5am yesterday morning at the Addo Croc and Lion Ranch, 35 miles north of Port Elizabeth.

Witness Jamiel Jonas claimed the two men had been taunting the female and two males from behind the high perimeter fence before climbing onto a support pole.

He added: 'That’s when one of the lions apparently got hold of his leg and he fell in.

'When we got to the camp (about 500 metres away), we saw the remains of his body. It was like something out of a horror movie.

'The friend was totally beside himself. You could see it happening, but screaming at the lions did not help. He was definitely dead by the time we got there.'

Another visitor, Veluchia Hassim, said: 'When we ran to the encampment it was horrific. One lion was gnawing on his ribs.'

A motorist driving near the 5,400sq foot animal enclosure was also flagged down by Simon.

Waldo Le Roux said: 'He came out of nowhere and was suddenly in the road right in front of me. I drove past, but he looked so upset that I turned around.

'But I couldn’t do anything. Even if the police were at the scene sooner they wouldn’t have been able to do anything.

'Simon told us Bredenhand had wanted to show him how big the lions were when one of the males attacked.'

Bredenhand had only worked at the ranch for a month.

Owner Johnny Janse van Rensburg shot dead the animals so police could enter the enclosure and retrieve the body.

He said:' There was no reason for him to be there. He was not involved with the lions'.

“We had to put them down. The lions were in a state of mind where you can’t work with them any more'.

Mr van Rensburg said three four-month-old lion cubs would be removed and the park would close until further notice.

A post mortem will be carried out on Bredenhand in the next few days.

From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1325622/Bar-manager-mauled-death-lions-It-like-horror-movie.html