Man mauled to death by lions at game reserve in Hammanskraal identified

The man who was mauled to death by lions at the Dinokeng nature reserve on Tuesday morning has been identified as Leon van Biljon, also known as “The Lion Man”, reports Pretoria North Rekord.

At around 15:00 on Tuesday, Cullinan police arrived at the Mahala View Lion Game Lodge, 30km north of Cullinan, in the Dinokeng area, where the owner of the lions was allegedly killed in the morning.

Leon van Biljon also known as the ‘The Lion Man’ giving at talk on lions at the lodge. Photo: Facebook

“Ambu-Link (emergency medical service) received a call of a lion attack at Dinokeng. We received information that the male (patient) was unresponsive and that a few lions were shot. We were also informed that the patient was not safe to approach as there was still a third lion in close proximity,” Ambu-Link ambulance service spokesperson Xander Loubser said.

He said the victim succumbed to his injuries and was declared dead by medical personnel.

The circumstances surrounding the alleged lion attack remained unclear in the afternoon. It was alleged that three lions had been shot at the lodge.

Leon van Biljon also known as the ‘The Lion Man’ with one of his lions. Photo: Facebook

Van Biljon’s son-in-law arrived on the scene but did not want to give comment about the attack.

He, however, did say the family was still very shocked and in mourning.

The police could not give comment on Van Biljon’s attack before going to print.

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