WARNING: GRAPHIC IMAGES
The 32-year-old outdoor expert punched the lion, which only angered the animal
Friend and colleague Dr Rainer Von Brandis tried to scare the predator away by shouting and throwing elephant dung but the elderly male lion was desperate
It continued attacking Neef until it had been run over three times with a car
The lion was later put down as it was unlikely to survive outside of its pride
Neef is recovering from the attack after being treated in two hospitals