The Tennessee woman who was attacked by a tiger at an animal sanctuary in Tennessee says that the big cat 'pulled' her arm 'into his mouth' after she tripped and fell over debris while working. 

Somer Stevens, 18, had been working at the Tiger Haven nonprofit animal sanctuary in Kingston, Tennessee, for just two months when she was attacked by Eeyore the tiger at the end of January.

'I just had to scream and scream and hope someone would find me,' she said to Good Morning America.  

Somer Stevens, 18, had been working at the Tiger Haven nonprofit animal sanctuary in Kingston, Tennessee, for just two months when she was attacked

Somer Stevens, 18, had been working at the Tiger Haven nonprofit animal sanctuary in Kingston, Tennessee, for just two months when she was attacked

.@GMA EXCLUSIVE: Teen tiger attack survivor recounts moments before violence. Somer Stevens, 18, remembers screaming for help after a tiger ¿pulled¿ her arm ¿into his mouth¿ while working at an animal sanctuary in Tennessee. @ReeveWill has the story. https://t.co/rwSZttT5VK pic.twitter.com/29WlIvFPlF

— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 17, 2021 Stevens was attacked by Eeyore the tiger at the end of January.

Stevens was attacked by Eeyore the tiger at the end of January.

Stevens said that she had been working to give the animal water when she tripped over debris, with her hand going into the enclosure as she tried to brace herself. The tiger immediately jumped into action.

 'Grabbing my hand, he had pulled my arm into his mouth,' Stevens explained, showing that Eeyore skipped over a portion of her arm, 'And went up to my elbow I suppose and just worked his way up until he got to my shoulder.

RELATED ARTICLES

Share this article

Share

Bodycam footage from first responders shows them rushing to assist Stevens as her fiance and other sanctuary staff try to stop her bleeding. 

Stevens said that she had been working to give the animal water when she tripped over debris, with her hand going into the enclosure

Stevens said that she had been working to give the animal water when she tripped over debris, with her hand going into the enclosure

Bodycam footage from first responders shows them rushing to assist Stevens as her fiance and other sanctuary staff try to stop her bleeding

Bodycam footage from first responders shows them rushing to assist Stevens as her fiance and other sanctuary staff try to stop her bleeding

First responders carrying Stevens into an ambulance

First responders carrying Stevens into an ambulance

Later footage shows Mary Lynn Haven, identified as the founder of Tiger Haven, insinuating that there was more to the story by stating that Eeyore was 'hand-raised.' 

'What's troubling to us is Tiger Haven is painting it as if Somer caused these injuries herself by trying to pet one of these tigers,' said a lawyer representing Stevens.

The sanctuary could not be reached for a comment. 

Later footage shows Mary Lynn Haven, identified as founder of Tiger Haven, insinuating that there was more to the story by stating that Eeyore was 'hand-raised'

Later footage shows Mary Lynn Haven, identified as founder of Tiger Haven, insinuating that there was more to the story by stating that Eeyore was 'hand-raised'

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pa3IpbCmmZmhe6S7ja6iaKaVrMBwrdGtoJyklWKGc4OPbmpuZ4ekuqK6jGpvZqWRqrmmsIytoKCdomKur7XMmqNmq5GjsLXBwKuwZquRrsBursigZJyZpGK5osDCoZydZZGnum%2B006aj