Authorities in South Carolina are investigating the death of 52-year-old Eric Slate, who suffered fatal blunt-force injuries while inside a kangaroo enclosure at a children’s petting zoo in Horry County, the Guardian reported.
Slate, brother of the farm owner, was known to “roughhouse” with a kangaroo named Jack. He was found dead just before midnight on Friday.
The incident occurred at 5 Star Farm, which offers interactive animal experiences. Officials confirmed that all animals remain secured and pose no public risk. The kangaroo involved was not euthanized, and inspectors are scheduled to assess the zoo’s conditions.
Tributes poured in from family members, with Robert Slate remembering Eric as a joyful and beloved figure. “Jack… will be fine,” he wrote, sharing photos of his brother with the animal.
While rare, deadly incidents at petting zoos have occurred in the U.S., including a 2022 case in Tennessee where a camel fatally trampled two men.
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