Family of Man Killed by Tiger Expresses Concern Over Mental Health Service Contact

The family of a 24-year-old man who was fatally mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park has raised concerns about his interactions with mental health services in the period leading up to his death, an inquest has heard. William Chapman died on October 10, 2026, after entering the enclosure of a 30-stone tiger named Altai, the Doncaster Coroner's Court was told.

Following a post-mortem examination, Chapman's provisional cause of death was recorded as 'multiple traumatic injuries' and 'animal interaction.' His family confirmed to the coroner that he had a history of significant mental health problems, including previous episodes of psychosis and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. They expressed concerns regarding his contact with mental health services prior to the incident.

Witnesses described Chapman as appearing "not attached to reality" as he danced to music with headphones on and paced along a walkway before climbing over two fences and entering the tiger enclosure. A park visitor recalled Chapman asking her to take a photo of him with a tiger in the background shortly before the tragedy.

Zookeepers attempted to deter the tiger, Altai, by firing five loud acoustic gun blasts. Emergency services, including two ambulances and a helicopter, responded to the scene, but Chapman was pronounced dead at the location.

Footage of the attack, which showed Altai pawing at Chapman, was shared online. The Yorkshire Wildlife Park has confirmed that Altai will not be euthanized.

Chapman's family stated they are "utterly devastated" and struggling to cope with their loss. They have appealed for an end to the circulation of offensive media content related to the incident, which they said is causing severe distress. They expressed hope that authorities will investigate the reasons behind Chapman's actions.

In a separate development, U.S. President Donald Trump shared footage of the attack online with the caption, "Don't ever mess with nature!" He later shared an AI-generated video depicting himself interacting with a tiger. South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard condemned the president's actions, stating that the Chapman family had contacted his office and were pained by the sharing of such content, especially the use of AI to mock the incident.

The City of Doncaster Council, acting as the licensing authority for the park, has initiated a health and safety investigation into the man's death. The park remains closed following the incident.

Chapman, a former child actor, had appeared in ITV and BBC productions. His family noted that he had suffered from significant mental illness over several years and was prescribed medication, adding that it would be for the coroner to determine the extent to which this played a part in his death.