NANCHANG, March 27 -- A zookeeper died after being attacked by a tiger at a zoo in east China's Jiangxi Province on Friday, local authorities said.

The accident happened at the zoo in Chuntai Park, Yichun City, around 8:30 a.m. when a tiger pounced on and bite the zookeeper, surnamed Gong, who was cleaning the tiger's enclosure. Other zoo staff rushed to drive away the tiger and injected it with tranquilizers, according to the city government.

Despite treatment, Gong, who suffered serious injures, died about one hour after the attack.

Local government officials are dealing with the aftermath.