South Africa Lion Park death: Photo of moment Katherine Chappell was savaged to death

Seconds from death: Katherine Chappell just as the lion attacked

When a lioness approached the car in front during a day out at a safari park, Ben Govender grabbed his camera for an unmissable photo opportunity

The animal wandered over, put its paws on the side of the car and peered in at tourist Katherine Chappell, who had wound her window down for a close-up encounter.

But what Ben saw next will haunt him for the rest of his life.


Within seconds, Katherine, 29, was dead after the beast lunged at her without warning and tore a chunk out of her shoulder.

Horrific: Katherine Chappell, 29, (R) who was mauled to death, with her sister Lauren Chappell

Horrified Ben, 38, said: “It was terrifying. After the first bite the lioness retreated from the car with blood ­dripping from her mouth and paw.

“We all thought she was done and didn’t like what she’d just bitten.

"But like someone in a temper that wasn’t ­satisfied in a fight, she leaped back into the car and mauled the passenger.

“The rangers came running in and the two lions ran off but the lioness had half the passenger’s shoulder in her mouth.

"And it was too late to do anything to save her.”

Katherine, from Rye, New York, was a successful video editor whose credits included the hugely popular TV series Game of Thrones.

(Daily Mirror)