Family of man killed by tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park describes him as 'bright, warm and engaging'

The family of a young man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at a wildlife park in South Yorkshire has spoken publicly for the first time, describing him as a cherished son whose life was marked by both creative talent and a long struggle with mental illness.

William Chapman, 23, was attacked on Saturday afternoon after going into the pen housing a rare Amur tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster. Emergency services were called shortly after 1:30pm BST, but Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, his relatives said they were "utterly devastated" by the loss and were still struggling to comprehend what had happened. They remembered him as "a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved — and William loved them back."

The family disclosed that Chapman had suffered from "significant mental illness" across a number of years and had been prescribed "strong medication." They said it would fall to the coroner to determine what role his condition may have played in his death, and asked the public to respect that process rather than draw premature conclusions.

An inquest into the death is scheduled to open at Doncaster Coroner's Court on Thursday, a step expected to begin establishing the official timeline and circumstances surrounding the incident. South Yorkshire Police confirmed that Chapman's family is being supported by specially trained officers.

The death has also renewed attention on how footage of such tragedies spreads online. Mobile phone video believed to have been recorded by Chapman himself appears to show the interior of the enclosure as he walks across grass toward the tiger. Clips of the incident circulated widely on social media in the days that followed, including a post on Tuesday evening by US President Donald Trump.

Downing Street declined to comment directly on Trump's decision to share the material, but said the family's wishes should be respected. "I think obviously the family have made their position clear. Of course, we respect that position," the prime minister's official spokesman said, adding that he would not comment on the president's social media channels.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said his office had been in contact with Chapman's relatives, who described the pain caused by knowing that videos and images of his death were being shared across platforms. Coppard urged people to refrain from speculating online, saying such commentary only deepens the suffering of those grieving and that "answers will come in time."

The family echoed that plea, saying the "publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content" was causing them severe distress "at an exceptionally vulnerable time." They added that they hoped the relevant authorities would do their utmost to establish why "our amazing son did what he did."

Chapman was a former pupil of the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, which paid tribute on Tuesday. "We loved watching William grow, both as a person and as a performer, during his time with us," the school said, calling it a privilege to have been part of his journey and saying he would be remembered with great fondness.

As a child, Chapman appeared in the ITV production "May Contain Nuts" alongside Shirley Henderson, best known for playing Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films, and Darren Boyd. He also portrayed Edward Jenner in the BBC series "True Stories," according to the tributes.

An eyewitness described seeing Chapman wearing headphones and pacing near the enclosure before he entered it. The incident led to the evacuation of the park, which remains closed with no reopening date confirmed.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park staff said their thoughts and heartfelt sympathies were with Chapman's family. They confirmed that the tiger involved, a rare Amur tiger named Altai, remained in its enclosure and would not be euthanised — a decision likely to be scrutinised as part of the wider review of safety protocols at the site.

City of Doncaster Council has opened a health and safety investigation. Dan Swaine, the local authority's executive director of place, said the council was "deeply saddened" and extended its "deepest sympathies" to Chapman's family and to those who witnessed the events at the scene.

Floral tributes have been laid at the entrance to the park near Doncaster, a visible sign of the shock felt in the local community and beyond. The combination of a coroner's inquest, a council health and safety inquiry, and continuing police work means multiple formal processes will now examine how a visitor was able to enter a tiger enclosure at a licensed wildlife attraction.

For now, Chapman's family has asked for privacy, saying they are trying to come to terms with a loss that has left them heartbroken. Their statement makes clear that they want the focus to remain on understanding what happened, rather than on the viral spread of images that have compounded their grief.