An inquest is due to open today into the death of William Chapman, the 23-year-old former child actor who was fatally mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday. The hearing is scheduled for 10am at Doncaster Coroner's Court and is listed under the name William Harry Bruce Chapman.
Mr Chapman jumped into the tiger enclosure at the zoo near Doncaster as onlookers urged him to "play dead". The Amur tiger, named Altai, attacked him and he was pronounced dead at the scene. He had filmed footage of himself approaching the animal inside the enclosure.
Family tribute and statement
In a statement released on Tuesday evening through South Yorkshire Police, Mr Chapman's family described him as "a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved - and William loved them back." They said he "suffered from significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication."
The family added: "It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death. We would ask everybody to respect that process." They said the publication and circulation of "deeply offensive media content is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time" and asked people to stop doing this.
Park closed and investigations under way
City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety investigation into Mr Chapman's death, and the park remains closed for a sixth day. A post on the zoo's website reads: "We can confirm that a serious incident has occurred on Saturday at the tiger enclosure. Our emergency response procedures were immediately activated, and emergency services attended the scene."
South Yorkshire Police confirmed officers are preparing a file for the coroner. The force said: "Officers have been in contact with William's family who have asked for privacy at what is an incredibly difficult time for them. We are continuing to support them."
Expert views on enclosure safety
Dr Campbell Murn, a lecturer in Conservation Science at the University of Reading and a former member of the government's expert committee for zoos, said that despite UK zoos having to follow set regulations for enclosure designs, incidents like the one on Saturday cannot be eliminated. He said "it was not possible to get there before the visitor was injured and subsequently died", adding that sophisticated enclosures "would minimise or reduce the risk, but it's never going to truly eliminate it".
Animal keeper Reece Oliver told Sky News the 30-stone (200kg) tiger was probably "just playing" when it began pawing the man. "If it really wanted to kill him, it would have probably killed him within 10 seconds," he said. "I don't think it knew what he was going to do, because the only thing that goes into that enclosure normally would be enrichment toys or food."
Witness account
Ella Ford, 24, who was at the park with her boyfriend, said she noticed Mr Chapman pacing around before he entered the tiger's enclosure. "Everyone was trying to get their kids away because they knew what was about to happen," she said. She described how one man tried to scare the animal away by banging on the fence, but the tiger "took no notice". Keepers managed to frighten away Altai by firing gas-powered acoustic guns into the air, causing him to retreat to a nearby shelter.
Mr Chapman was a former child actor who starred in the ITV production May Contain Nuts alongside Shirley Henderson and played a young Edward Jenner in the BBC series True Stories. The Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe posted a tribute on Facebook, saying: "We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our former student, William Chapman. Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with William's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time."
