Neighbours of William Chapman, the man killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, have described him as "reserved and quiet" but someone who would "light up" when discussing his passions.
Kelsey Smith, 18, and Joshua Anderson, 23, lived next door to Chapman in a block of flats in Doncaster. They said he was a man "who didn't have many people around him" and would "keep himself to himself".
Kelsey, who works at a bar near the flats, said Chapman would visit once a week and order an orange juice or half a John Smith's.
Inquest hears of mental health history
An inquest into Chapman's death heard he died of "multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction" after climbing into the tiger enclosure at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Senior coroner Nicola Mundy said he had a history of mental illness, a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and had suffered previous bouts of psychosis.
Joshua said he felt Chapman came to Doncaster for a "fresh start" and that they never saw any family visit his flat. He said: "He could have potentially misunderstood what he was doing. But now we are speculating."
Joshua added: "He never said why he was in Doncaster, or if he was receiving any mental health care. One time he told our bar manager not to worry about him talking to himself. It was a part of him."
Neighbours recall his habits and personality
Joshua, a warehouse worker, said he often saw Chapman sitting alone at a bus stop with headphones on, and that Chapman told him he often went hiking. "He was living alone in the apartment. He'd be sat at a bus stop or stood by the council building with his headphones on," he said.
"He often went hiking and into the Peak District. Just enjoying himself, and I think he found peace in that, so for him to be at the zoo wasn't out of character for him."
Joshua said he knew Chapman well as a "frequent customer" at the Ballers Club down the road, and that in the last 12 months Chapman had developed more of a voice and would open up to people.
"He would not socialise at all; he'd struggle to ask for, like, his order of a drink or whatever he wanted, which frequently was a John Smith's or a pint of orange juice, but he would never over-drink," Joshua said. "He was just quiet; he enjoyed his time on his own. He might speak to himself a little bit, and then he would go."
Inquest also hears of independence
The inquest also heard Chapman was under adult mental health services in Doncaster but was "highly functioning and independent, with no care requirements".
Kelsey, a barmaid, said Chapman seemed like someone who could "take care of himself" and could hold a conversation. She said: "He would come into the pub a lot; I would speak to him and see him coming in and out of the apartment building."
"He did keep himself to himself; he was reserved and quiet - but there was another side to him. Whenever you would speak to him about something he enjoyed, like F1, his world would light up, and he would come out of his shell."
"He was really sweet. I don't want people thinking he was a horrible, crazy person; that was not true. William was well reserved with people he didn't know, but he could hold a conversation really well. He would talk to you without any problems."
"People are talking about how he had schizophrenia, but I have never seen that side of him. He was always well-spoken and seemed like he could take care of himself."
