Zookeeper eaten alive after filming himself with escaped lions ‘to impress girlfriend’

Warning - distressing content

In the video, a man who's name has been reported only as F Iriskulov, can be seen unlocking a padlock at a private zoo in Uzbekistan during a night shift.

As reported by The Mirror, the lions initially seem very relaxed as he approaches them.

However, they quickly become agitated, though do not attack straight away.

About two minutes after stepping into the courtyard, the animals attacked.

In the video, he can be heard screaming as he is bitten with the camera still running.

Local reports suggest the lions then partially ate the guard, with a statement saying 'the lions killed him and partially consumed his body'.

He reportedly made the video to give to his girlfriend.

An official statement from regional police said: "Today, December 17, three lions kept in a single cage at the Lion Park private zoo, located in the Parkent district of Tashkent Region, escaped into the zoo's courtyard. [...]

"The lions entered the yard, attacking and injuring a 44-year-old keeper born in 1980. Unfortunately, the keeper later died from his injuries."

Two of the lions were tranquillised after the incident, and the third was shot dead. The man's remains were found by colleagues hours after the attack.