Family locked inside zoo after closing time - and called for help in an original way

A family of two women and four children was locked inside Wingham Wildlife Park in Kent, England, after closing time. When attempts to activate an alarm failed, they posted a plea for help in a local Facebook group. The family was rescued after about 40 minutes, unharmed.

A family consisting of two women and four children, including infants aged four and nine months, was locked inside Wingham Wildlife Park in Kent, England, after closing time. The incident occurred when the group reached the exit shortly after 6:00 PM and discovered that the staff had already left and the gates were locked. Abby Louise Smith, 29, said they panicked, the children were crying and screaming, and they tried to shake the doors to activate an alarm. When nothing worked, Smith posted a plea for help in the Canterbury Residents' Group Facebook page, asking if anyone had a phone number for a park employee. Another woman with her, Emma Deshaine Mackie, also posted a similar message. The call worked, and the family was rescued after about 40 minutes. The park's curator, Marcus Wilder, explained that maintenance staff missed the family due to timing, and that usually two closing checks are sufficient. The park emphasized that no one was harmed.