Man Who Died After Entering Tiger Enclosure Was Subject of Appalling Online Abuse, Including from Donald Trump

William Chapman, a 24-year-old man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, has become the subject of widespread online abuse, including a video shared by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Chapman was fatally mauled by a 200kg Amur tiger named Altai after he climbed into the enclosure on a Saturday afternoon. Witnesses described Chapman as having climbed over a fence and then falling to the ground, where he was attacked. He was pronounced dead at the scene. An inquest into his death was opened, with the full hearing expected in March.

The incident occurred while Chapman, who had schizophrenia and suffered from psychosis, was under the care of mental health services in Doncaster. His family has raised concerns about his contact with these services, and the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust has launched an investigation. This trust has faced previous criticism regarding its mental health services.

Chapman's family has described him as a bright, warm, and engaging young man who was dearly loved. They have spoken out against the "deeply offensive media" and cruel videos posted online following his death. The family specifically condemned the sharing of an AI-generated video making light of his death by President Trump, calling it "appallingly tasteless."

Chapman had a background as a talented young actor, having appeared in BBC and ITV productions as a child. His former drama teacher remembered him as a "vibrant, talented and popular" boy with aspirations for fame. However, in his late teenage years, he began to show a marked change in behavior, developing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which can co-occur with schizophrenia.

Concerns have also been raised about the potential role of Chapman's online gaming habits in his declining mental state. He was known to be a fan of fantasy games, and questions have arisen about whether he was blurring the lines between virtual worlds and reality.

Chapman's family stated that while he was a patient under mental health services in Doncaster, he was "highly functioning and independent with no care requirements." A neighbor described him as a "lovely, lovely man" who was shy but had become more approachable in the months leading up to his death. However, this neighbor also noted that Chapman did not seem like his regular self during their last encounter about a week before he died.

Just 24 hours before the incident, Chapman posted a series of striking images on social media, including gym selfies, a picture of a crossbow, and an image of himself with an arrow in his mouth and holding a Bible. His family has requested that their privacy be respected during the ongoing inquest and investigations.

A health and safety inquiry into the zoo's operations will also be conducted by the City of Doncaster Council. Yorkshire Wildlife Park reopened its doors following the incident.