INJURIES FATAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 57, Issue 248, 31 July 1937, Page 7

INJURIES FATAL.

DEATH OF MR H. DAVIDSON. (United Press Association—Copyright.) (Received This Day, 11.10 a.m.) LONDON, July 30. Mr Harold Davidson, formerly rector of Stiffkeys, is dead as the result of injuries received through being mauled by a lion. A lion sprang a.t and severely mauled Mr Harold Davidson, while he was speaking at the Skegness amusement park from a cage containing a lion and lioness. He was rescued by Miss Renee Somer, a sixteen-year-old attendant. She held the sifarling beast at bay with a whip and thrust an iron bar into its mouth. Miss Somer, having forced the lion into a corner, dragged Mr Davidson to the front of the cage, enabling the attendants to rescue him. IShe fainted immediately she left the cage. GRAVING FOR PUBLICITY. “AM I ON THT3 MAIN PAGE?” (Received This Day, 2.15 p.m.) LONDON, July 30. The “Dally Mail” says that Mr Harold Davidson’s craving for publicity was unabated’ even when he was dragged, bleeding and mangled, from the lion’s cage. His first words were: “Telephone to the 'London newspapers; you must not miss the first editions.” Among, bis last words were: “Am 1 on the main page?” The lion that mauled Mr Davidson remained on exhibition after his death, but Mr Davidson’s daughter protested, saying it was disgraceful, whereupon the show was closed, a long queue being turned away. The “Mail” adds that Mr T>avidson made £20,000 from the show business in recent years, but gave it all away.