The death of a 52-year-old Loris man found in a kangaroo and wallaby enclosure was accidental, the Horry County Coroner’s Office ruled Thursday.
Eric Slate, whose family operated educational and interactive petting zoo 5 Star Farm, had multiple superficial scratches and a deeper laceration to the brachial artery in his May 2025 death.
However, the coroner’s office was unable to determine how the artery was damaged. Possible causes include falling into the fencing, gate screws, sharp signage or animal claws. It also remains unclear when or how the scratches occurred and whether Slate was standing or lying down…