Ettore Weber, Circus tamer, mauled to death by tigers.

The animal tamer, Ettore Weber, teaching two tigers in the Weber circus in 2010. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand Herald: Top circus tamer is mauled to death by his four tigers during rehearsals.

Four big cats mauled to death a world famous tiger tamer as he prepared for a show at a circus in Italy.

Ettore Weber, 61, was mauled to death at the Circo Orfei - Italy's best-known circus - during a training session in Triggiano, a small town in the Puglia region.

Weber was rehearsing for his act when one of the tigers knocked him down before the other three pounced on him and mauled him to death, the Daily Mail reported.

What a way to go. RIP.