Katherine Chappell was in the country raising money for charity at the time of the tragedy in Johannesburg - she had also worked on one of the smash hit Marvel blockbusters.
The American tourist who was mauled to death by a lion on a South African safari has been identified as an Emmy award winning film editor who worked on Game of Thrones.
Katherine Chappell was in Africa raising money for a charity that protects animals from poachers when she was killed.
She died on Monday afternoon as she was driven through The Lion Park near Johannesburg by a tour guide.
After winding her window down to take pictures a lioness lunged at the 29-year-old mauling her to death.
Katherine’s family have now made a moving tribute to her online.
Writing on Facebook her mother Mary, father Jon and sisters Jennifer and Lauren and brother Ryan described her as “a brilliant, kind, adventurous and high-spirited woman.”
They added she "was very much loved and shared her love for life with those she met.
“We cannot thank everyone enough for the kind words and support. It means the world to us during this difficult time.“
Her family will now hold a memorial service in her hometown of Rye, New York, on Saturday.
Katherine, known as Katie to her friends, had been living in Vancouver since 2013 where she worked as a visual effects editor for production company Scanline.
While working as a film editor she helped created effects for the hit series "Game of Thrones" and the movies "Captain America: The Winter Soldier" and "Divergence."
Further details of Katherine’s death emerged as her tour guide Pierre Potgieter, 66, told how he had suffered a heart attack as he battled fight off the lion and save her life.
Speaking from his hospital bed he also refuted claims by the owners of the park he flouted rules which put Katherine’s life in danger by driving with the windows open.
“That’s not right, not right at all,” he said. “If that’s what they're saying, that’s not the case. Not at all."
Asked to describe the attack which killed Katherine, he replied, ‘It wasn’t good, dreadful. I’m still in a shock and daze about it.”
A statement from his wife, Corlien Potgieter, on behalf of their business Kalabash Tours, said Katherine opened the window “of her own accord” and at the last moment.
Providing more details of the attack she said: “The tourist had a camera and, of her own accord, rolled down the passenger window in order to take photographs.
“A lion then attacked the tourist through the open window. Mr Potgieter tried to fend the lioness off and in the process sustained injuries to his arm.
"When the lion retreated, the guide saw that the tourist had sustained extremely serious injuries. She was bleeding profusely from her neck.
"Under the circumstances Mr Potgieter tried his best to stop the bleeding and save her life. He applied constant pressure to stop the bleeding, while calling for help.”
The statement also accused Lion Park staff of not doing enough to try to save Katherine who was bleeding heavily from the neck.
The company said employees rushed to pull the lioness off the young woman and carried out CPR adding paramedics who attended the scene but could do nothing to save her.
However the Potgieters said the first member of staff on the scene was "reluctant" to help him apply pressure to Miss Chappell's neck wound, leaving the tour guide to continue to battle to save her life.
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