A dramatic footage has emerged showing an ‘angry’ lion biting a rugby player after the latter tried to pet it ‘like a kitten’ at a game park in South AfricaJOHANNESBURG: A dramatic footage has emerged showing an ‘angry’ lion biting a rugby player after the latter tried to pet it ‘like a kitten’ at a game park in South Africa.

Scott Baldwin, who plays for Ospreys, was in South Africa ahead of the Ospreys’ Guinness PRO14 game against South African franchise Cheetahs.

He was visiting the Bloemfontein zoo prior to the game and was caught on camera stretching his arms between the bars of a cage in an attempt to stroke three big cats as they grazed in the sun.

The rugby ace immediately regretted his decision after one of the lions was seen suddenly turning its head and clamping its jaws around Scott.

Dramatic footage shows the men beginning to scream and running backwards before sighing with relief when Scott manages to escape. The 29-year-old was taken to hospital where he received stitches and treatment to prevent infection. Yet his coach Steve Tandy didn’t have any sympathy for his player – saying Scott had ignored instructions not to pet the animal.

In a press conference, Mr Tandy said: ‘There was an incident with a lion, but in fairness it was nothing to do with the lion.’ ‘He did bite Scott but when you put your hand in a fence where there is a lion, then you will get bitten.

‘It was pretty stupid on Scott’s behalf and he is pretty lucky. It was a good environment and we were told how far back to stand. ‘I don’t know what sort of wildlife show Scott has been watching where you can pat a lion on the head as if it’s a kitten.’

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