This is the horrific moment a circus lion suddenly attacked its trainer in front of a vast audience of parents and children.
The crowd screamed in fright as seasoned performer Hamada Kouta was overcome by the ireful animal which clawed him and sank its teeth into his arm. The video displays the 32-year-old trainer being knocked down by the large cat which in the ring abruptly turned aggressive. Kouta's leg, back and arm were clawed and mauled.
Following the attack, Kouta explained: "I called up one lion, and the second one attacked me from the front. I stopped him in the middle of the ring calmed him down but he refused to return to his sitting position. I stepped backwards, there was a stand behind me, I hit it and fell. The lion jumped at me and bit me – but thank God not on my neck.