Officials from the South African lion park where “Game of Thrones” special effects editor Kate Chappell died are disputing claims made by the tour guide who said an employee refused aid after a lioness mauled Chappell.
“Our camp staff based at the gate of the enclosure immediately rushed to the vehicle and chased the lion away,” the Fourways Lion Park said in a statement to TheWrap. “An ambulance was immediately called to the scene and it arrived within minutes. In the meantime members of our guiding staff with first aid training arrived on the scene and applied first aid until the ambulance arrived.”
Pierre Potgieter’s Kalabash Tours previously claimed in a statement that a park employee arrived on the scene after the attack, but “appeared reluctant” to help Chappell and Potgieter, and left both in the vehicle until the ambulance arrived.
Chappell was a visual effects artist and editor who had previously worked on multiple episodes of the hit HBO show “Game of Thrones.” She was visiting South Africa as part of a mission to protect native wildlife from poachers.
“We would like to assure everyone that we will not euthanize the lioness. The lioness will remain under our care,” the park’s statement adds.
According to official reports, the vehicle “stopped to view a pride of lions” and Chappell rolled down her window to take a picture, despite multiple signs and verbal warnings that doing so was forbidden within the park. A lioness then leapt through the open window, causing severe injuries to Chappell that eventually led to her death.
“It is incredibly sad that a life had to be lost in this manner,” the statement concludes. “Visitors to South Africa need to remember that predators are dangerous and rules are there for their own safety, if all the rules are adhered to your visit to the Lion Park, national parks and other similar facilities will be a safe and treasured experience.”