The woman was mauled by a Sumatran tiger. Picture: Esme AllenSarah McClay died after being attacked by a Sumatran tiger at the South Lakes Wild Animal Park in Dalton-in-Furness, Cumbria, on Friday
The owner, David Gill, yesterday insisted that Ms McClay, originally from Glasgow, died because of “keeper error”. He opened the park as normal on Saturday.
Mr Gill, who founded the park, denied reports that Ms McClay had taken her own life.
The Scot’s family said they were hurt by the claims made by their daughter’s boss before the investigation into the tragedy was complete.
Brother Stephen McClay, 27, said: “These are unsubstantiated claims. My family and I feel his comments are ill-advised, premature and disrespectful.
“He’s laying the blame squarely at her door before the official police inquiries have begun. It has caused hurt to our family.”
He added: “If the investigation found that Sarah made a mistake, then we would accept that, of course. But until it is complete, I don’t think anybody – us or David Gill – should be making comments about who is to blame.”
Ms McClay’s boyfriend, David Shaw, posted a message to her Facebook page on behalf of
the family – including mother Fiona, 49, and sister Lucy, 20, – thanking the public for their support.
Detectives are now trying to establish whether the incident was due to a technical fault at the zoo or human error.
Ms McClay, from the Barrow area, was going about her routine duties in the big cat enclosure at the park when she was attacked. She died later from her injuries in hospital.
Mr Shaw said a memorial page had been set up for donations to a favourite passion – red squirrel conservation.
Mr Gill yesterday posted statements on his animal centre’s Facebook page denouncing news coverage of the death, resisting suggestions the park should be closed or the animal involved destroyed.
He said: “From the investigations that have taken place it is clear this tragedy was caused by a sad error of judgment and breach of protocols – in essence, keeper error.
“This is not blame, it is not anything but defining the facts as they appear. This does not mean Sarah killed herself on purpose it means simply she died from her own tragic mistake.”
He added: “My thoughts are purely with Sarahs [sic] family and friends and very much with my staff. I wish to commend my staff publicly for their compassion, love, care and commitment in a time of severe emotional distress.
“I brought in a counselor [sic] for them and watched as we all suffered from intense media interest and involvement.”
Cumbria Police said an elaborate enclosure of gates means the animals and their keepers should remain apart at all times – but it appeared this system had somehow failed with fatal consequences.
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