The Chronicle

Salisbury, Tuesday,August 22, 1967 A 15-year-old Milton High School shot his parents’ pet leopard dead today after it had attacked his friend, Peter Botha (12).Oliver Kay, at home in Fern Lane Hatfield, shot the leopard, Tigger, owned by his wild life expert parents Bob and June Kay, after it clawed his friend Peter Botha.According to Peter’s mother, Mrs CME Cox, Oliver was playing with Tigger when her son walked into the next door garden to join him. “I was not there at the time but I understand that Peter moved too near the leopard — who was chained — and Tigger lunged at him and began clawing his neck and arms”, she said.

When the leopard attacked Peter, Oliver ran into the house, got the gun and shot the animal she added.

“Oliver saved Peter’s life by prompt action.He then ran to a telephone and called for a doctor, who arranged for Peter to be taken to hospital”, Mrs Cox said. ‘I thought I was going to die when I saw my son. The back of his head was covered in blood”, she added.

Peter, a pupil of Widdecombe Junior School, is her only son by her first husband. A spokesman for Salisbury Central Hospital tonight said Peter was suffering from multiple lacerations but his condition was satisfactory.

“Mrs Kay, an authoress, said she was upset by the news of Tigger’s attack on Peter. Bought in Botswana last year, Tigger was completely tame and had never been known to attack anyone”, she said.