Family pays tribute to ‘warm and engaging’ man killed in tiger attack
William Chapman, 23, died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on Saturday. His family has paid tribute to him as “bright, warm and engaging” and asked for privacy, while authorities investigate the circumstances of his death.
The family said Chapman had lived with significant mental illness for several years and had been prescribed strong medication, but said it was for the coroner to determine whether this played a part. The incident happened shortly after 13:30 BST; the park was evacuated and remains closed as the council carries out a health and safety investigation. The Amur tiger, Altai, remains in its enclosure and will not be euthanised.
- William Chapman, 23, died after entering a tiger enclosure.
- His family remembered him and requested privacy.
- A council investigation is under way; the park remains closed.
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Yorkshire Wildlife Park is a zoo near Doncaster, in South Yorkshire, where visitors can see animals in large enclosures. Amur tigers are a type of tiger native to eastern Russia and parts of north-east Asia.
After a death at a zoo, police and local authorities may investigate how it happened and whether safety procedures were followed. A coroner can examine the circumstances of a death and decide whether factors such as a person’s health or medication played a part.
The park’s staff are responsible for caring for the animals, while the council oversees the health and safety investigation. The investigation may help establish what happened and whether any changes are needed at the park.