Gerard Van Laar had been travelling in Nepal since last month. He and his guide were reportedly attacked by the tiger while hiking in Bardia national park, around 250 miles south-west of Kathmandu on the weekend.

Laar managed to escape by climbing a tree, however his guide was attacked and injured as he ran away to draw the tiger’s attention away from the tourist.

“I was super lucky to be alive. I would have been dead if it had not been for Krishna [his guide],” Laar told the Associated Press by telephone.

“All of a sudden I heard a roar and a growl, and the tiger was heading toward us at full speed,” he said.

The tiger the reportedly returned and circled the tree as Laar tried to stay as quiet as possible around six meters above the ground. The guide arrived two hours later with help, and managed to drive the tiger away with sticks.

Bardia is a protected national forest which is home to about 70 tigers. It is popular and receives thousands of visitors a years, but tiger attacks are reportedly rare.