William Chapman, 24, was pronounced dead at Yorkshire Wildlife Park after he jumped over two fences to get inside the tiger enclosure, where he was attacked by Altai, a 30st Amur tiger. An inquest opening into his death heard that Mr Chapman had suffered episodes of "psychosis and schizophrenia" but was "highly functioning".
The 24-year-old lived independently in a flat in Doncaster city centre, with neighbours saying he would "keep himself to himself". Kelsey Smith, 18, and Joshua Anderson, 23, moved into the same block of flats where Mr Chapman lived in July 2026. The couple said the man "didn't have many people around him".
Neighbours Describe a Quiet Man Seeking a Fresh Start
Ms Smith, who works at the bar round the corner from the residential building, said Mr Chapman would go in once a week and order an orange juice or half a pint of John Smith's beer. Mr Anderson said he felt like Mr Chapman came to Doncaster for a "fresh start" and that he and his partner never saw any family visit his flat.
Mr Anderson, a warehouse worker, said: "He could have potentially misunderstood what he was doing. But now we are speculating. 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. He never spoke of his past life. It was like when he came to Doncaster, he wanted a fresh start."
He added: "He was a harmless young man who made a fatal mistake." Mr Anderson also described how Mr Chapman would often sit alone at a bus stop with his headphones on.
A Man Who Found Peace in Hiking
The 24-year-old would also often go hiking, his neighbour added. Mr Anderson said: "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 often went hiking and into the Peak District, just enjoying himself. I think he found peace in that, so for him to be at the zoo wasn't out of character for him."
Mr Anderson said he knew Mr Chapman well and that he was a "frequent customer" at the Ballers Club, located just down the road. He said in the last year, Mr Chapman had developed more of a voice and would open up to people.
"I used to work in the Ballers Club down the road, where he was quite a frequent customer over the past two years or so," Mr Anderson 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. Over the past probably six to 12 months maybe, he'd kind of developed more of a voice."
Mental Health Services and a 'Really Sweet' Person
The inquest opening also heard that Chapman was under adult mental health services in Doncaster, but was "independent, with no care requirements". Ms Smith, a barmaid, said that Mr 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. He was always well-spoken and seemed like he could take care of himself."
