Australia Lion Attack: Two Lions Maul Woman, Leaves Her 'Critical'

A zookeeper was brutally attacked by two lions leaving her in critical condition in New South Wales.

The incident happened on Friday at the Shoalhaven Zoo, about 160 kilometers south of Sydney. Emergency services were called to the scene before 10:30 a.m. as a 35-year-old woman suffered severe injuries in her face and neck after being mauled by two lions.

Police said the woman was cleaning the lion enclosure when she was attacked. She was found unconscious and paramedics had to enter the den to retrieve her. The unidentified woman was then airlifted to St. George Hospital in Sydney.

Faye Stockmen, duty operations manager at NSW Ambulance, said the operation was “harrowing.” She also described the attack as “extremely vicious."

“It is an incredibly dangerous situation, both for the patient and the paramedics,” Stockmen said, reports 9 News.

“Being the first to walk into the enclosure was one of the most frightening experiences – we literally had to walk into a lion's den.”

Police said the woman is now in "a critical but stable condition." The zoo was not open at the time of the incident. It has been closed since late March due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It’s the first animal attack in a zoo since 2014 when a male handler was dragged by a crocodile and suffered minor hand injuries.