Terrifying moment Brit keeper is dragged away by lion before being savaged by beast

THIS is the terrifying moment a Brit zookeeper was dragged away by a lion before being savaged by the beast. Distressing footage has resurfaced on social media after Mike Hodge was attacked by the big cat at the Makarele Predator Centre in South Africa in 2018. Mike Hodge recovering in hospital after the horrifying attack at his wildlife sanctuary in northern South Africa Mike Hodge was attacked by a lion at his own safari park in 2018 As witnesses scream for help, the lion paws at Mike who does not appear to be moving Mike and his British family ran the lion reserve together at Thabazimbi which grew from a sanctuary they initially built up to breed and keep lions in safe surroundings. In the footage, which has reappeared on Reddit this week, the lion spots Mike after he enters its enclosure and chases him towards the metal door of the facility. In astonishing scenes, the elderly park owner is dragged like a rag doll towards some bushes. Most read in News HOT STUFF Live UK weather updates as 20C temps to blast Britain in mini-heatwave THIS WEEK VLAD'S LAST DAYS ‘Cancer-hit’ Putin could be KILLED in coup as spy bosses ‘plot ousting’ SHOVEL OFF I found workmen digging up my drive - they claim they don't need my permission HORRIFIC DEATH Parents to be hit with murder charges after daughter 'melted into couch' CRAMMED IN Our council house is so cramped my son can't walk & I can't even stay overnight BANK HOLIDAY HORROR Three dead & one 'seriously injured' in 'single car crash' in Cornwall Onlookers scream for help while the animal paws Mike, who does not appear to be moving. The lion then drags him further into the bushes but then gunshots ring out and the lion is scared away. But the predator remains near the victim while more shots are fired into the air. One girl who is watching the attack is heard crying in horror as another man shouts for someone to “get a rifle.” A ranger was forced to shoot Shamba dead after the lion refused to move away from the 72-year-old following warning shots. Luckily Mike survived the ferocious attack after being airlifted by air ambulance for life saving surgery. He suffered severe bite and claw wounds to his neck and back and had a broken jaw. Read More on The Sun ON THE SPOT No-nonsense Susanna makes Boris squirm as she grills him over cost of living 'she's been cancelled' Piers savages 'money-grabbing' Meghan in rant about her Netflix axe His step-daughter Emma, 32, and wife Chrissy nursed him back to health. At the time owner Mike said he was “devastated” at the loss of Shamba, 10, who was shot dead by a park ranger in order to save his life and allow him to be rescued from the enclosure.