Game of Thrones editor Katherine Chappell mauled to death at Lion Park
The American tourist who was mauled to death by a lion on a South African safari has been identified as a 29-year-old film editor who worked on an Emmy winning episode of Game of Thrones – as the tour guide who tried to save her life relived the moment he suffered a heart attack during the horrifying incident.
Katherine Chappell, who was in Africa raising money for a charitable organization that protects animals from poachers, was killed by the lioness as she took pictures during a drive through the popular Lion Park, near Johannesburg, on Monday afternoon.Her identity emerged as tour guide Pierre Potgieter, 66, told Daily Mail Online how he had suffered a heart attack as he tried to save Miss Chappell's life.
'That’s not right… not right at all,' the 66-year-old said in a phone call, 'if that’s what they're saying, that’s not the case. Not at all.'
Asked to describe the attack which killed his client, he replied, ‘It wasn’t good, dreadful. I’m still in a shock and daze about it.’
Corlien Potgieter, the guide’s wife, told Daily Mail Online the American’s death, ‘was the worst experience of his life’.
Speaking from her her home in Melville, the same suburb of Johannesburg where the dead woman was staying at a guest house, Mrs Potgieter said: ’It’s a terrible thing that has happened, truly unbelievable.
'Here we are in the city of Johannesburg and a lion kills someone - it is beyond belief. It is so very sad, our hearts go out to this woman.
'The cardiologist said my husband must have had a heart attack as he was fending off the lion, or just after. His wounds are clean and there doesn’t seem to be any problem with them, it is just his heart we are now concerned about.'
Mrs Potgieter has also spoken out to rubbish claims that both the front windows of the vehicle were open at the time of the attack.
In a statement released by her, on behalf of their business Kalabash Tours, said Miss Chappell had opened the window ‘of her own accord’, and at the last moment.
The statement also sheds more light on the tragic incident.
It reveals how, at about 2.30pm, Miss Chappell was taking pictures when the lioness attacked her through her open window - which was down despite advice to the contrary.
A statement released by Mrs Potgieter read: 'The tourist had a camera and, of her own accord, rolled down the passenger window in order to take photographs. A lion then attacked the tourist through the open window.
'Mr Potgieter tried to fend the lioness off and in the process sustained injuries to his arm. When the lion retreated, Mr Potgieter saw that the tourist had sustained extremely serious injuries.
We are broken-hearted to share this news with our friends and family: Yesterday morning, while on a volunteer mission to protect wildlife in South Africa, Kate Chappell was involved in a tragic and fatal accident.
Katie was a brilliant, kind, adventurous and high-spirited woman. Her energy and passion could not be contained by mere continents or oceans. She was very much loved and shared her love for life with those she met.
We cannot thank everyone enough for the kind words and support. It means the world to us during this difficult time.
- Jennifer Chappell
'She was bleeding profusely from her neck. Under the circumstances Mr Potgieter tried his best to stop the bleeding and save her life.
'He applied constant pressure to stop the bleeding, while calling for help.'
The statement also accused Lion Park staff of not doing enough to try to save the stricken tourist who was bleeding heavily from the neck.
However, Mr Simpson said park staff rushed to pull the lioness off the young woman and carried out CPR. Paramedics were called but could do nothing to save her.
'When the paramedics were treating the lady she unfortunately passed away,' he said.
However, Mr Potgieter and Kalabash Tours have given a slightly different account, describing the first employee on the scene as 'reluctant' to help him apply pressure to Miss Chappell's neck wound, leaving the tour guide to continue to battle to save her life.
The tour company's statement said the ambulance only 'arrived some time thereafter'.
'For Mr Potgieter this felt like a very long time,' it added.
The Lion Park said it was unable to comment on how the situation was handled until after it had conducted an investigation.
Daily Mail Online can now reveal that Katherine Chappell traveled to South Africa a week ago via London from Vancouver, Canada, where she had been living and working as a visual effects editor since 2013.
After working as an assistant for several production outfits around New York, in November 2013 Chappell was hired as a video effects editor at Scanline - an award-winning production company with offices in Los Angeles, Vancouver and Germany.
During her tenure at Scanline, Chappell helped create graphic effects for HBO's hit series Game of Thrones and feature films Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Divergence.
She also worked on the Secret Life of Walter Mitty starring Ben Stiller and Noah, starring Oscar winner Russell Crowe.
Chappell also was part of the team that won a Primetime Emmy for the 2014 Game of Thrones episode The Children.
On the eve of the deadly lion attack, Chappell shared a photo of a receipt from a Johannesburg hotspot called Six Cocktail Bar. Under 'customer name' the bar staff typed 'American.'
'Also notice how cheap the drinks are...currency is in rand,' Chappell boasted to her friends in what has turned out to be her final Instagram post.
The US State Department confirmed the American tourist's death in Lion Park, Johannesburg, on June 1 in a statement released to Daily Mail Online Tuesday evening.
'We are providing all possible consular assistance,' Julia Straker, a State Department spokesperson, stated. 'We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim of this terrible tragedy.'
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