An inquest opening has heard that a man who died after being attacked by a tiger at a wildlife attraction had a background of mental health issues and a diagnosis of schizophrenia. William Chapman, 24, was fatally mauled at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster on Saturday.
Mental health concerns raised
At the hearing at Doncaster Coroner's Court on Thursday, coroner's officer Caitlin Brookes stated that Mr Chapman's relatives had raised "a number of concerns" regarding his interaction with mental health services. He had experienced previous episodes of psychosis and was receiving support from adult mental health services in Doncaster, but was described as "highly functioning and independent with no care requirements."
Ms Brookes said the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust had initiated an investigation following Mr Chapman's death. A preliminary post-mortem examination concluded that he died from multiple traumatic injuries sustained during the encounter.
Incident details
The inquest was told that Mr Chapman visited the park on October 10 and, at approximately 1.30pm, scaled two fences and entered the tiger enclosure. Ms Brookes said: "He was approached by the tiger and the ensuing physical contact between the tiger and Mr Chapman led to him sustaining multiple traumatic injuries which rapidly led to his death."
Park staff secured the tiger, and paramedics attended the scene but pronounced Mr Chapman dead upon arrival. The court heard that his stepfather travelled to the mortuary to formally identify him on October 13. His full name was William Harry Bruce Chapman, born in 2002 in Chichester, and he was a self-employed online trader residing in Doncaster.
Coroner Ms Mundy noted that the family "were finding things incredibly difficult" and chose not to attend the hearing, but would be kept informed. City of Doncaster Council, which licenses the park, is conducting a health and safety investigation and confirmed it would share its findings with the coroner.
Next steps
A full inquest is scheduled for March 18 next year. In an earlier social media statement, the park confirmed that Altai, the Amur tiger involved, is "safe and well" and will not be euthanised.
