William Chapman, the man mauled to death by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, posted eerie Instagram images of himself holding a bible and a crossbow on the day of his death. The victim, believed to be in his early 20s, was described as vulnerable by police.
Final social media posts
Chapman uploaded the chilling pictures, which show him sitting on a kitchen countertop while clenching an arrow between his teeth with the crossbow across his lap. He is believed to be wearing the same clothes as on the day of his death and posted a single heart emoji alongside the social media post.
He also shared an Instagram post moments before he was killed. The footage captured his final moments as he filmed himself slowly approaching Altai, a 30-stone tiger resting on a raised wooden platform, according to the Mail.
Witness accounts
In the clip, Chapman can be heard breathing heavily as horrified witnesses urge him to turn back, with one person shouting: "Seriously." Emergency services rushed to the wildlife park shortly after 1.30pm, but Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene.
It is thought that he jumped from a viewing platform before the five-year-old Amur tiger dragged him away. A woman also desperately attempted to stop Chapman from entering the enclosure moments before the fatal attack.
Park response
Witness Anthony Hunt said the woman tried to pull him back before Chapman managed to break free. He told The Telegraph: "He overpowered her and jumped off. She seemed really frightened. We spoke to her after and she was like, 'I tried to pull him back' but I guess she didn't want to risk her own life as well."
Hunt also said he had seen Chapman "dancing erratically" after arriving at the park earlier that day and "bowed down, on all fours, started praying, and looking up at the sky". Police have confirmed he was visiting the park on his own.
Keepers managed to frighten away Altai by firing gas-powered acoustic guns into the air, causing him to retreat to a nearby shelter. The big cat was quickly secured, but Chapman was later pronounced dead at the scene.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park said: "We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following [Saturday's] tragic incident. Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with the family and loved ones of the man who tragically lost his life. The park will be closed while the staff team who were deeply affected by events receive specialist support. Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger. We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident."
