CIRCUS worker Nigel Wesson, who had part of his arm bitten off by a tiger at Chipperfield's training centre in Chipping Norton, said he feels as if the missing limb is still there.

The 32-year-old lion tamer was attacked a week ago as he fed the Bengal tiger in its cage.

He told GMTV from the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, where he is recovering, that he still feels pain in the missing left arm, despite the fact 25-stone Rajah swallowed much of it.

"It's not the actual arm that's hurting, it's the missing bit," he said. "There's a burning, tingling feeling, as if it's still there. It feels as thought I've just slept on it."

The former riding instructor, who lost his arm above the elbow, had been working at the centre for ten days when he was attacked as he reached into the tiger's cage.

Mr Wesson, who was left handed, believes the tourniquet he asked a colleague to put on him saved his life after Rajah's attack.

He said: "To start with I think he was just playing, but once he realised how nice it tasted it got more serious."

And Mr Wesson, who expects to have a false arm fitted, remained adamant that he did not want Rajah destroyed.

"It's one of those unfortunate accidents.

"I don't think anybody's going to put their hand in with him in case it happens again, but I don't want him put down."

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Mr Wesson hopes to continue working with animals once his false arm is fitted.His sense of humour has prove crucial to his recovery, he added. "You've got to laugh. If you don't laugh you'll scream.

"I don't see myself as brave, I am just doing what I have to do to survive."

He aded: "I could quite easily have been involved in a car crash and lost the arm that way."

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