Catch a fire
Posted: Sat Apr 19, 2014 9:38 pm
doing it in style...
A family was left with nowhere to run when their car caught fire - in the lion enclosure at Longleat Safari Park.
Rangers managed to rescue a woman and two children from the vehicle before it burst into flames.
Visitor George Lear, who saw the drama unfold, said: "The lions just kept their distance and didn't take their eyes off the fire and smoke.
"The rangers were pushing them back but they were reluctant on moving away as they looked interested."
Mr Lear said: "The car slowly caught fire and then the whole thing went up leaving the place filled with black smoke."
Also in the enclosure on Friday afternoon was Gabrielle Owen, from Newport, who said the car burst into flames incredibly quickly and it could have been a "horrific story".
She praised the rangers at the Wiltshire attraction, who she said "were incredibly fast at dealing with the incident".
Kevin Ashley, from the safari park, said the lions were cleared from the enclosure and the park was closed.
He said the fire was put out quickly and no visitors or animals were hurt.
