A safari-goer in South Africa has been mauled to death after a lioness launched through the window of her car.

Fellow tourist Ben Govender, 38, was in a car behind Katherine Chappell’s vehicle. He reached for his camera for what he anticipated would be a great photo of the lioness looking into Ms Chappell’s four-wheel-drive. The 29-year-old Ms Chappell, from New York, had lowered her window to get close to the lioness.

Katherine Chappell departs for her safari adventure.

Mr Govender couldn’t believe it when the animal jumped towards the vehicle and bit her shoulder. The lioness then pushed into the car and fatally mauled her. She died from her injuries.

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Mr Govender told the Daily Mirror/Fairfax: “It was terrifying. After the first bite, the lioness retreated from the car with blood dripping from her mouth and paw … it was too late to do anything to save her.”

Ms Chappell worked as a video editor on movies and shows including HBO’s Game of Thrones.

She was visiting Gauteng Lion Park, in Johannesberg, South Africa, on Monday.

Daily Mirror front page: lioness lunges at car

Mr Govender added: “At first it just looked like an amazing shot of a lion stood up at the window. The lion can only have had its head in that window for around 15 seconds. At that moment the tourist was face to face with one of the most ferocious, incredible and magnificent animals. But then the lioness lunged and we saw the driver diving into the passenger seat and punching at the lioness.”

Ms Govender’s death is the third attack in four months at the park, which boasts on its website of “super close-up views” of the animals.