Horrified Wife Screams As Husband Is Mauled While Petting Lion Through Enclosure

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A tourist nearly had his arm ripped off by a lioness after trying to pet it in front of his horrified wife.

Shocking mobile phone footage shows Pieter Nortje reaching into an enclosure through a fence and stroking a lion.

The lion walks away, then Mr Nortje approaches a lioness and pets her head. But the lioness suddenly bites on to his arm and refuses to let go as she attempts to pull him towards the enclosure.

The 55-year-old can be seen struggling to fight off the big cat but luckily it lets go before doing further damage.


His wife can be heard shouting: "It's biting him, it's biting him!" as the lioness locks its teeth on the mans's forearm.

Mr Nortje was said to be celebrating his 10th wedding anniversary with his wife, Ilze, at the luxury Tikwe River Lodge in Virgina, Free State Province in South Africa.

He was reportedly rushed to Pelonomi Hospital in Bloemfontein after suffering a septic shock - a life-threatening condition caused by severe infection and requires emergency medical treatment in intensive care.