Lion savages Egyptian tamer during circus performance

A lion has turned on its tamer during a circus performance in Alexandria, Egypt

Video, filmed by an audience member through the bars of a cage and posted to YouTube on November 27, shows 35-year-old trainer Islam Shaheen guiding his lions through a routine using sticks while music plays in the background.

Abruptly one of the lions launches forward to attack the trainer, seizing and biting the helpless man in the neck.

The music cuts out as the performance venue is filled with the screams of children, the camera falling to one side.

Other tamers can be seen rushing to Mr Shaheen’s aid, beating the lion with sticks in an attempt to free their fallen colleague.

Mr Shaheen was rushed to a local hospital following the attack, pan-Arab broadcaster Al-Arabiya reports, but reportedly died of his injuries a few days later.

The lion is reported to be a new addition to the show, imported from South Africa.

One of Mr Shaheen’s friends Seif Ali told Al-Arabiya the lion attacked because it was hungry. Another speculated the animal may have been startled by the loud music playing in the background.

A circus spokesman claimed the lion had been behaving erratically in the lead up to the performance, citing the fact it had entered mating season.