Lion tamer mauled to death during live show in Egypt

Footage shows Islam Shaheen being pinned to the ground by the 200kg animal

A crowd watched on in horror as a lion tamer was mauled to death during show in Egypt.

Footage shows trainer Islam Shaheen, 35, inside an enclosure with two trainers and three lions in Alexandria, in the north of the country.

As dance music is heard in the background, Mr Shaheen, who had been a lion tamer for ten years, waved a large stick in the air beckoning one of the 200kg animals towards him, while another climbed a ladder.

The third lion then pounced on Mr Shaheen, mauling his neck. The video, taken by an audience member shows the lion rearing on its legs and pinning the trainer to the ground.

As he lay motionless on the ground, the two other trainers rushed to help him and pull the lion off. Mr Shaheen was rushed to Adalusian Salam hospital where he passed away days later.

He is said to have suffered a fractured skull, deep cuts to his face and neck, broken bones in his chest and abdominal bleeding.

The lion was a new addition to the show and brought over from South Africa. It was apparently in mating season, causing it to behave erratically, according to Yahoo News.

It has now been pulled from the show and will be examined by a vet.