UK Ambulance Staff Investigated for Snooping on Medical Records of Man Mauled by Tiger

Two employees of the Yorkshire Ambulance Trust are under investigation for allegedly accessing the medical records of William Chapman, 24, without a legitimate reason after he was fatally mauled by a tiger at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The incident occurred after Chapman scaled a fence on Oct. 10 and entered the big cat enclosure.

Ambulance officials confirmed there were "two instances" of unauthorized access to Chapman's medical information, according to reports. The UK's Information Commissioner's Office has been notified of the potential data breach, and the Yorkshire Ambulance Trust has informed Chapman's family.

Chapman's family stated that he had a history of mental illness, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and was under psychiatric supervision. He died at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries, with the cause of death attributed to animal interaction.

A full investigation into the data breach is scheduled to take place in March. This is not the first time National Health Service staff have faced scrutiny for similar breaches; in June, dozens of employees were found to have improperly accessed the records of a boy attacked by an alligator at a zoo.

Chapman had previously shared a video on Instagram showing him approaching the Siberian tiger, Altai, shortly before the fatal incident. Eyewitnesses reported he appeared calm and was even asking visitors to take his picture with the tiger in the background. Chapman was known to have been taking medication for his mental health conditions at the time of the attack.