"The Lion Almost Chopped His Head Off": SA Reacts to Lion Lunging at Man in Terrifying Attack Video

"The Lion Almost Chopped His Head Off": SA Reacts to Lion Lunging at Man in Terrifying Attack Video

  • A terrifying incident involving a lion attack has been captured on video, showing a man desperately trying to fend off the animal
  • The dramatic footage shows the lion lunging at the man, causing him to panic and attempt to run to safety, and has sparked widespread concern and debate
  • The incident has raised questions about wildlife regulations and the risks posed when dangerous animals are not properly contained, with many online users expressing shock and criticism

A terrifying incident involving a lion attack has left a man visibly shaken after a close encounter was captured on video and shared online.

A man was in fear as a lion terrifyingly attacked him in a video that shocked many.
A man was in fear as a lion terrifyingly attacked him in a video that shocked many. Image: Winfried Wisniewski/ Getty Images and Ajawaz/Facebook
Source: UGC

Loose lion attacks a man and leaves him in fear

In the dramatic footage, the man can be seen standing behind a deep freezer, seemingly using it as a shield while the lion, which had a chain around its neck, roamed nearby. The animal suddenly lunged towards him, forcing him to panic and attempt to run to safety.

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As the man bolted, the lion chased after him with surprising speed. In a chilling moment, the predator managed to leap onto him, causing him to stumble as he desperately tried to fight it off. The man shouted in fear, his voice trembling, while struggling to keep the animal from overpowering him.

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The video, which was shared by Ajawaz on Facebook on 4 August 2025, shows the lion clinging onto him momentarily before he managed to break free. It is unclear where the incident took place or how the lion managed to be in such close proximity to people. Some online users speculated that the animal might have escaped from captivity or belonged to a private owner, given the chain around its neck.

Social media users expressed both shock and concern, with many questioning the safety measures around wild animal handling, while others criticised the presence of a lion in a seemingly unsecured environment, warning about the dangers of keeping wild predators outside professional sanctuaries.

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"What is the funny side here? When someone is fighting for his life," one person commented.

While the man did not appear to sustain serious injuries in the clip, the encounter has sparked debate about wildlife regulations and the risks posed when dangerous animals are not properly contained.

Take a look at the video below:

Viewers react to shocking lion encounter

The video went viral, gathering over 1.5 million views on Facebook, and people flooded the comments section to share their thoughts.

Gmat Kaigama said:

"Lions of nowadays have now been classified as vegetarian."

Oluwaseun Akinjagunla added:

"And the owner would have said don't worry, it does not bite."

Adams Patrick expressed:

"The lion almost chopped his head."

Siya Kondlo stated:

"I would peed on myself, trust me!"

Rosedalima Ndong commented:

"The laughing. Sound shouldn't be there at all. This Gentleman is in grave danger. Jokes Aside. How did it end?"

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A man was in fear as a lion terrifyingly attacked him in a video that shocked many.
A man was in fear as a lion terrifyingly attacked him in a video that shocked many. Image: Ajawaz
Source: Facebook

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Source: Briefly News

Authors:
Johana Mukandila avatar

Johana Mukandila (Human Interest Editor) Johana Tshidibi Mukandila has been a Human Interest Reporter at Briefly News since 2023. She has over four years of experience as a multimedia journalist. Johana holds a national diploma in journalism from the Cape Peninsula University Of Technology (2023). She has worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, PAICTA, BONA Magazine and Albella Music Production. She is currently furthering her education in journalism at the CPUT. She has passed a set of trainings from Google News Initiative. Reach her at johana.mukandila@briefly.co.za

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