Boy attacked by 'tame' lion in South Africa dies after 3 weeks in coma

12-year-old Kristian Prinsloo did not survive the April 8 lion attack that left him in a critical condition at a hospital in Pretoria where he died on Wednesday.

The Grade 6 pupil died a day after his 12th birthday with two of his neck vertebrae damaged from the attack and a swollen brain that stopped doctors from performing any operation, local media News24 reported.

The boy was attacked by a three-year-old “tame” lion that was kept in a cage at a luxury estate where his grandmother, 75-year-old Marie Strydom – whom he was visiting – lived.

The lion was one of three belonging to the grandmother’s neighbours and friends, Cor and Alet Vos outside Lephalale in the Limpopo province.

His father, Herman Prinsloo, told News24 that the lion suddenly appeared in the kitchen where the boy was and before Kristian could run to the bedroom as directed by his grandmother, the lion went for his throat.

His grandmother is reported to have shoved the lion off the boy and protected the boy until he received medical help at a nearby hospital where bleeding was stopped and bite marks to his windpipe were treated before he was airlifted to the Pretoria hospital where he died.

“Kristian Josef Armand Prinsloo died at 10:50. We love you son. Herman & Adri Prinsloo,” his parents posted on Wednesday on a Facebook group created since the attack.

The public group has over 4,000 members with thousands of well wishes and condolences before and after Kristian Prinsloo’s death.

Lion taming is the taming and training of lions for protection, entertainment, the circus and other personal purposes.