Female zookeeper is attacked by a LION and suffers serious wounds to her neck and head 

A female zookeeper is fighting for life after being attacked by a lion at a zoo in NSW. 

The 35-year-old was found unconscious in the lion’s enclosure at around 10.20am at Shoalhaven Zoo, in North Nowra.

She suffered serious injuries to her head and neck and is in a critical condition.  

Four ambulance crews and a rescue helicopter are currently at the zoo and paramedics are preparing to airlift the woman to Sydney Hospital.   

The zoo has been closed to the public since the start of the coronavirus pandemic.  

A spokesperson for NSW Ambulance service said they were called just before 10.20am.

‘There are reports of an unconscious zookeeper in the lion enclosure,’ the spokesperson said.

‘The 35-year-old woman sounds like she has neck and facial injuries.’ 

It comes after another zookeeper was attacked by a crocodile in 2014.   

Trent Burton, in his 30s at the time, was grabbed by a 3.7m crocodile, known as John, and dragged him into the water. 

Onlookers were terrified to witness Mr Burton being attacked by the crocodile. 

‘I’ve seen them in the wild, lying on river banks, and have seen them at Steve Irwin’s zoo, but never like this,’ witness Marlene Orr told The Sydney Morning Herald at the time. 

‘It was too scary.’

Mr Burton was able to break free of the crocodile’s grasp and escape the water. 

He was treated for non-life threatening injuries to both of his hands and was taken to Shoalhaven District Hospital for treatment.