Zookeeper of 25 years is left in a coma after a leopard mauls her at a Netherlands safari park

A woman in her fifties entered the indoor enclosure housing two Persian leopards at Safaripark Beekse Bergen in Hilvarenbeek on Saturday morning; the animals had retreated inside to escape Storm Austen. Her colleagues heard her screaming for help over their walkie-talkies. She was airlifted to hospital with serious head and neck injuries. Her surgery went well, but she remains in a critical condition.

Martin van Hees, head of animal care, said the leopard would not be euthanised: 'The animal cannot help it.'

The Dutch Labour Inspectorate has opened an investigation into how the attack happened.

The enclosure has no cameras, and she was alone at the time, in accordance with park protocol.