Doncaster: A 24-year-old man who died after being mauled by a tiger at a South Yorkshire zoo had experienced episodes of psychosis, according to details shared during the opening of an inquest. William Chapman lost his life following an incident at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster after he scaled two barriers to enter the enclosure of a male Siberian tiger named Altai.
During the hearing at Doncaster coroner’s court, a coroner’s officer stated that Chapman had previously been diagnosed with schizophrenia. Although described as functioning independently without daily care needs, he remained under the supervision of local mental health services. His family subsequently raised several concerns regarding his interactions with these services, prompting the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS foundation trust to initiate an internal review.
An initial postmortem examination established that Chapman died from multiple traumatic injuries sustained during the encounter. The incident occurred around 1.30pm when he breached the perimeter fences. Park staff quickly secured the animal, and emergency responders arrived, though Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene. Senior coroner Nicola Mundy indicated that her office is awaiting a more comprehensive medical report regarding the exact nature of his injuries.
Following the tragedy, Chapman's relatives expressed profound distress after US president Donald Trump shared footage of the attack on social media alongside an artificial intelligence-generated video. The family denounced the online sharing of the material as deeply offensive. In a tribute, they remembered Chapman as a warm and intelligent young man who struggled with a severe mental illness for several years.
As a child, Chapman pursued acting, appearing in television productions including a comedy drama and an educational series, and trained at a regional stage school. Local authorities, including the City of Doncaster Council, are conducting a health and safety review relating to the park's licensing. Wildlife specialists noted that the facility likely could not have prevented the breach, and park management confirmed that the tiger involved would not be euthanised. A full inquest is scheduled for 18 March next year.