Sunday, June 15, 2025
Contact    |    RSS icon Twitter icon Facebook icon  
Unexplained Mysteries Support Us
You are viewing: Home > News > World of the Bizarre > News story
Welcome Guest ( Login or Register )  
All ▾
Search Submit

World of the Bizarre

Family's car catches fire in lion enclosure

By T.K. Randall
April 20, 2014 · Comment icon 14 comments

Park rangers stepped in to keep the lions at bay. Image Credit: CC BY-SA 3.0 Lacen
A day out at the safari park for Helen Clements and her family turned in to something of a nightmare.
Clements and her two children had been driving through the lion enclosure during their first ever visit to Longleat Safari Park when their car started to overheat and subsequently burst in to flames.

As thick black smoke started to pour from the vehicle, park rangers rushed in to the enclosure and ordered them not to try getting out until the area was safe. "It could have been in the flamingos or the camels but no, it had to be in the lion enclosure," said Clements.
Thankfully the rangers were able to usher the family to safety while the lions were kept at bay. Witnesses praised the fast response of the staff and emphasized how easily the situation could have taken a turn for the worse.

"I can laugh about it now as it's only a car and we're all safe," said Clements.

Source: BBC News | Comments (14)




Other news and articles
Our latest videos Visit us on YouTube
Recent comments on this story
Comment icon #5 Posted by Sundew 11 years ago
You know you're in trouble when you look out of your smoke filled car and see lions putting on bibs and grabbing the bar-be-que sauce. All kidding aside, they are blessed to be alive, twice!
Comment icon #6 Posted by DieChecker 11 years ago
Most safari park lions I've seen were very lazy and well fed. I doubt there was very much danger. Still good thing that they got rescued quickly. Also good that no lions were killed out of hand.
Comment icon #7 Posted by Jyre Cayce 11 years ago
that is funny.
Comment icon #8 Posted by :PsYKoTiC:BeHAvIoR: 11 years ago
Aliens Forum troll. Fixed.
Comment icon #9 Posted by Calibeliever 11 years ago
How in the world does your car catch fire? I mean what are the odds of that happening at all, let alone in the one place within 1000 miles where it's actually safer to stay in the burning vehicle? Maybe someone should school this woman on regular vehicle maintenance.
Comment icon #10 Posted by libstaK 11 years ago
I'm pretty sure the lions would have been too concerned about the fire to be thinking about food during that episode. Still, how unlucky can you be to be stuck wondering whether you are about to be burnt alive or eaten. It would have been pretty harrowing for them at the time.
Comment icon #11 Posted by Sundew 11 years ago
How in the world does your car catch fire? I mean what are the odds of that happening at all, let alone in the one place within 1000 miles where it's actually safer to stay in the burning vehicle? Maybe someone should school this woman on regular vehicle maintenance. The lions had the meerkats put dry grass around the engine in hopes of getting some nice tender tourists, in return they promised not to eat the meerkats. Or it could be no vehicle maintenance like you said .
Comment icon #12 Posted by Calibeliever 11 years ago
The lions had the meerkats put dry grass around the engine in hopes of getting some nice tender tourists, in return they promised not to eat the meerkats. Or it could be no vehicle maintenance like you said . Never underestimate the villany of meerkats.
Comment icon #13 Posted by quillius 11 years ago
Never underestimate the villany of meerkats. there is probably a joke in there somewhere about meerkats and car insurance.....
Comment icon #14 Posted by SkeptcByMindBelievrByHeart 11 years ago
them lion were hesitant... one step forward for fresh human flesh and meat, one step backward for the huge fire and flames... no wait 2 steps forwards for fresh...............................................


Please Login or Register to post a comment.


Our new book is out now!
Book cover

The Unexplained Mysteries
Book of Weird News

 AVAILABLE NOW 

Take a walk on the weird side with this compilation of some of the weirdest stories ever to grace the pages of a newspaper.

Click here to learn more

We need your help!
Patreon logo

Support us on Patreon

 BONUS CONTENT 

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, you can gain access to a wide range of exclusive perks including our popular 'Lost Ghost Stories' series.

Click here to learn more

Top 10 trending mysteries
Recent news and articles