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Coroner: Intern Attacked By Lion Died Almost Instantly From Paw Swipe After Animal Escaped Cage
A young woman who was fatally attacked at a private cat sanctuary yesterday was killed almost instantly when the lion took a swipe at her, according to a report from the coroner's office.Dianna Hanson, 24, died quickly of a broken neck when a 4-year-old male lion named CousCous attacked her at Project Survival's Cat Haven outside of Fresno, according to Fox News. Although the lion later tossed her body, scratched and bit her, Hanson was likely already dead at that point, said Fresno County Coroner David Hadden.
The coroner also said that she was not inside the lion's cage. She was inside a large play and exercise area. He said the lion "escaped" from the cage into the area where she was and attacked her. Authorities had not commented on exactly where her body was found up until this point.
Hanson knew that she was not supposed to be in the same area with the lion (and if the coroner is correct, she apparently she wasn't). However, her father told The Associated Press that Hanson is frustrated that she was not allowed to have contact with the large cats.
Paul Hanson told the AP, "She was disappointed because she said they wouldn't let her into the cages with the lion and tiger there."
Her Facebook page and several images circulating show Hanson posing with cats both large and small, like this:
Related:
24-Year-Old Intern Fatally Mauled By Lion Knew She Shouldn't Go Inside His Cage
Lion Mauls Volunteer At Exotic Cat Haven: 'Someone Just Got Too Close'
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