British tourist tells of Port Elizabeth cheetah mauling

A British tourist who was mauled by captive cheetahs has told the BBC that she is "on the mend".

Violet D'Mello, 60, from Aberdeen, said she survived by "playing dead" at the Kragga Kamma Game Park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa last weekend.

She and another family had entered the enclosure for a photo next to the cats when a child was attacked and Mrs D'Mello intervened before being attacked herself.

She said: "It was, I think, a playful attack. I just remember something biting my head and dragging me down."

Mrs D'Mello suffered injuries to her head, stomach and legs during the incident, which happened during a holiday with her husband Archie.

  • Subsection
  • Published