Nation & World News

'Game of Thrones' effects artist killed in lion attack

By Zach Dennis
June 4, 2015

A woman who worked on "Game of Thrones" as an effects specialist was killed in a lion attack in South Africa on Monday.

Speaking with NBC News, Scott Simpson, the assistant operations manager at Lion Park, open-air facility north of Johannesburg, said the attack happened when a "lioness approached from the passenger side and bit the lady through the window."

Simpson said that witnesses told park officials that the windows were down. He said there are numerous signs warning visitors to keep them up. He went on to say that "the lioness would be moved to a solitary pen and would not be put down."

Chappell’s driver, Pierre Potgieter, suffered injuries trying to help save her, and had a heart attack. The tour company told ABC News that Potgieter said the lioness pounced on Chappell after she lowered her window to take a picture.
The tour company denies that the windows were open for the entire duration of the ride through the park.

Back in the U.S., the family of the 29-year-old paid tribute to the "brilliant, kind, adventurous and high-spirited woman." Her family added that she "was very much loved and shared her love for life with those she met" in a post on Facebook.

Chappell had been living in Vancouver, Canada, working as a visual effects editor for Scanline on hit movies such as “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “Divergent” and “Godzilla.”

Read more at NBC News and ABC News.

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Zach Dennis

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