Ryan Easley, known for his connection to “Tiger King” star Joe Exotic, tragically lost his life earlier this year following a tiger attack. Recent details have emerged regarding the horrifying incident.

The Tulsa Medical Examiner has disclosed that the 37-year-old Easley succumbed to a combination of blunt force, sharp force, and crushing injuries sustained during the mauling, TMZ reported on Thursday.

The fatal encounter occurred on September 20 at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo, Oklahoma. Easley was performing with a big cat in front of a live audience that included his wife, Elaine, and their daughter, Lily.

Choctaw County Sheriff Terry Park shared with ABC that the tiger unexpectedly bit Easley around the neck and shoulder, resulting in his near-instantaneous death.

Easley was highly experienced in handling animals. His background was influenced by his father, who worked as a zookeeper specializing in elephants. Easley’s passion for working with big cats began at 21 after he visited a circus and subsequently secured an apprenticeship with a tiger trainer.

Easley’s mentor retired in 2011, prompting him to launch a traveling performance called ShowMe Tigers. After the COVID-19 pandemic began, he opened Growler Pines, as touring with his act was no longer possible.

An associate of Tiger King star Joe Exotic, Ryan Easley, died after a tiger attack earlier this year, with authorities now revealing the grisly cause of death

Like Joseph Maldonado, known as Joe Exotic from the mega-hit Netflix series ‘Tiger King’ (pictured), Easley was known for his work in the exotic animal exhibition world

Sheriff Park told The Associated Press that Easley had the ‘big tiger’ for ‘quite some time.’ The attack happened toward the end of the show, his wife rushed into the cage and removed the animal.

The tragedy was reported around 2pm on Saturday, and he was pronounced dead on the scene.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) licensed the animal preserve and is conducting an investigation, according to ABC.

Joseph Maldonado, known as Joe Exotic from the mega-hit Netflix series ‘Tiger King’, acknowledged the caretaker’s death in a since-removed social media post, according to The Oklahoman.

‘Prayers go out to his family,’ Maldonado wrote. ‘Ryan took great care of his animals! He loved every one of those tigers and was an advocate for tigers as well as elephants.’

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the animal rights group more commonly known as PETA, wrote in a statement that Easley ‘acquired tigers from Joe Exotic and fellow Tiger King villain Bhagavan “Doc” Antle for his business, ShowMe Tigers.’

They bashed Easley, writing that he ‘hauled [the tigers] around the country and forced them to perform in cruel circuses.

‘[He] kept them trapped in cages for hours when they weren’t performing.’

The animal rights group also wrote that Easley was allegedly caught ‘violently whipping tigers during a training session’ and that he ‘boarded his tigers in cramped cages’ at Joe Exotic’s roadside zoo.

Peta called for ‘the remaining roadside zoo exhibitors’ to ‘get out of the business now and send the animals to accredited sanctuaries where they can finally live in peace.’

Easley passed away at 37 from ‘blunt force, sharp force, and crushing injuries’ due to a tiger mauling, according to the Tulsa Medical Examiner, TMZ reported on Thursday

He was fatally attacked by a big cat while performing in front of a live audience at the Growler Pines Tiger Preserve in Hugo, Oklahoma, on September 20

His wife Elaine and daughter Lily were among those in the audience (pictured)

The preserve remembered Easley as a passionate wildlife advocate who had a deep love for animals

Joe Exotic —  who is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence — acknowledged the caretaker’s death in a since-removed social media post

Joe was convicted on 19 federal counts including wildlife crimes and the heavily publicized murder-for-hire case against his zoo rival, Carole Baskin (pictured) 

Maldonado, who is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence, clapped back to PETA’s statement on Facebook, writing they ‘always lie and drag him into everything.’

‘Ryan built a huge compound to keep his tigers in on the backside of my zoo. PETA doesn’t know crap,’ according to The Oklahoman.

Maldonado was convicted on 19 federal counts including wildlife crimes and the heavily publicized murder-for-hire case against his zoo rival, Carole Baskin.

The preserve remembered Easley as a passionate wildlife advocate who had a deep love for animals.

A GoFundMe page was created to help Easley’s family during this tragic time, with over $15,000 raised out of a $20,000 goal.

The page wrote that Easley’s dedication and sacrifice were unmatched, and that his love for his family ‘shone above all else.’