Woman's arm torn off by circus tiger

A circus tiger tore off a woman’s arm when she reached into its cage to stroke it, according to a newspaper report.

The 24-year-old Romanian woman worked at the circus, but was off-duty when the attack occurred near Lisbon late yesterday, Jornal de Noticias reported.

Circus staff retrieved the arm and placed it in ice, the report said.

An official at Lisbon’s Sao Jose Hospital confirmed the woman was admitted for surgery, but said doctors were unable to save her arm.

She was said to be in stable condition.