The male tiger that attacked Roy Horn–of the famous entertainment duo Siegfried & Roy–died last Wed., on March 19.

The news was revealed through Siegfried and Roy’s Facebook page. The white tiger, they say, was 17 years old.

“It is with great sorrow that I am writing you this note today, that on March 19, 2014, in the early afternoon, our beloved 17 year old white tiger friend and brother, Mantecore, left us and is now with his siblings in white tiger heaven.”

And despite the 2003 attack, the duo said the tiger actually helped to save Horn’s life when he felt dizzy and collapsed on stage.

“My lifesaver, Mantecore, who was the one responsible for pulling me to safety where the Paramedics could help me after my high blood pressure made me dizzy on stage,” the post stated. He is greatly missed, however, I have my memories and I know that now he is playing with his brother and sister.”

In an interview six years after the incident, Siegfried and Roy sat down with 20/20’s Elizabeth Vargas, and said both of them suffered a great deal after the attack, and Siegfried sank into a deep depression.

“I was so alone, and I was so lost,” he stated. “And of course, I got in depression, but the depression was more because of the show…because it was over.”

In the Facebook post Horn also said that he saved Mantecore from being neglected, because when he was born, his mother was not well enough to care for him.

“Mantecore was one of a litter of three cubs born to a first time mother,” reads the post.

“She was able to care for the first two babies, but by the time Mantecore arrived, she was so exhausted she wasn’t paying any attention to him. Without thinking twice I went into her space and got slowly closer, his umbilical cord was still attached, so I pinched it off with my fingernail and scooped him and placed him near her, and then she started to lick him.”

Image via YouTube