Family mourns man killed by tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

The family of William Chapman, a 23-year-old man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, has paid tribute to him, describing him as a “bright, warm and engaging” young man who was deeply loved by his family.

Chapman was attacked by a tiger after entering the animal’s enclosure shortly after 13:30 BST on Saturday. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident prompted the evacuation and continued closure of the wildlife park while the relevant authorities investigate.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, his family said they were devastated by his death and struggling to understand what had happened. “William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved – and William loved them back,” the statement said.

Chapman’s family disclosed that he had experienced significant mental illness over several years and had been prescribed strong medication. They stressed that the role, if any, of his mental health and medication in the circumstances surrounding his death would be a matter for the coroner to determine. “It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death. We would ask everybody to respect that process,” the family said.

They also appealed for privacy, expressing distress over the publication and circulation of deeply offensive material relating to the incident on social media. The family said they hoped the authorities would establish the circumstances that led to their son’s death.