A 17-year-old boy has been bitten by a cheetah after he walked into its enclosure while on a safari park school trip.
The boy, from Germany, was visiting the the Beekse Bergen Safari Park near Tilburg in the Netherlands, when he and his two pals left the marked walking path intended for visitors, putting their lives at risk.
It is unclear whether the boys deliberately wandered off to enter the cheetah enclosure, or if they accidentally found themselves there.
Park officials are investigating the lead up to the incident.
One boy - whose name is withheld by authorities due to privacy regulations - suffered injuries to his arms and head when the cheetah attacked him as he tried to flee.
A worker at the park has been hailed a "hero" after he managed to drag the boy to safety.
A spokesman for the wildlife park told local broadcaster RTL: "The group left the path which has been created for visitors who discover the premises not by car but by foot.
"There are information signposts all over the safari park in several languages, including German.
"They apparently got over a six-metre (20ft) fence and ended up in an area which is restricted only to visitors in vehicles."
He underlined: "The carer who managed to rescue the boy acted like a hero.
"The teenager was visibly shocked but the carer and his colleagues looked after him."
Despite his injuries, the boy was quickly treated and discharged on the same day.
Beekse Bergen Safari Park is the biggest wildlife zoo in the Benelux region, with roughly 1,250 animals from over 150 species.
Since the incident, the park's management have reevaluated visitor-safety rules, a spokesman says.
Cheetahs are large cats native to Africa and central Iran, with a running capability of 50 to 80 miles per hour - making them the fastest land animals in the world.
Beekse Bergen Safari Park, which first opened its doors in 1968, registered around 1.15 million visitors in 2019.
Its website reads: "Stimulate all your senses during the impressive safaris at Beekse Bergen.
"Admire the expansive plains on foot, opt for adventure and take your own car, get on board the safari bus for an educational tour, or relax during a stunning boat trip.
"Each safari is unique and you can decide on the order you take them!"
Making visitors aware of its on-foot safari experience, the park says: "Put on your hiking boots and go on an adventure while exploring our impressive natural environs.
"While following the walking trail, you will come face-to-face with some very special animal species."
