Tiger That Mauled Magician Roy Horn Dies
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File photo. iStock/Thinkstock(LAS VEGAS) — The white tiger that mauled Las Vegas magician Roy Horn in 2003 and left the Siegfried & Roy performer disabled has died.
Horn, 69, posted a lengthy tribute Tuesday on his Facebook page, writing, “It is with great sorrow that I am writing you this note today that on March 19, 2014 in the early afternoon our beloved 17-year-old White Tiger Friend and Brother, ‘Mantecore’ left us and is now with his siblings in White Tiger heaven.”
Horn and Siegfried Fischbacher said in a statement that the tiger passed away after a short illness.
The tiger had been part of Siegfried & Roy’s popular show at The Mirage Resort & Casino when it suddenly attacked Horn and pulled him off the stage, causing serious injury.
Horn has always maintained that the tiger did not attack him, but rather was trying to save his life.
In his Facebook note, Horn writes that the tiger was his “lifesaver” and the “one responsible for pulling me to safety where the paramedics could help me after my high blood pressure made me dizzy on stage.”
Horn was critically injured in the incident and 25 percent of his skull was ultimately removed.
Horn concludes his tribute by writing, “Farewell my dear friend…know that your image is forever burned into my heart.”
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