William Chapman, the 23-year-old former child actor who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, shared several photos and a video on social media the day before the tragedy. He was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday, October 10.
Social media posts before the incident
On a now-deleted Instagram account, Chapman posted a video as he appeared to approach the tiger after entering the enclosure. The short clip showed the large tiger, Altai, lying on top of a wooden platform a few metres in front of the camera. In the audio, the person filming can be heard breathing heavily as distant voices shout: “Oh my God” and: “Seriously.”
The account was heavily active the day before the incident. Images showed Chapman documenting that he was in Doncaster, where the park is located. He appeared to show off buying an alcoholic beverage, a Jack Daniel's mixed with Coca-Cola Zero, according to the Daily Mail.
Images of his day
Other images showed a property the former child actor was staying in, which he tagged as Doncaster. He also posted a random collection of images including a soldier figurine and what is believed to be a Greek war helmet. Further images appeared to show more of the property, including the living room.
The account also showed photos of Chapman visiting a swimming pool and the gym. It is alleged by the Daily Mail that in a photo of Chapman posing in the gym, he is wearing the same clothes that he wore to the wildlife park the next day. The last photograph, believed to be taken that day, showed Chapman posing on a kitchen worktop with a copy of the Bible and a crossbow.
Family statement
Chapman's family described him as a “bright, warm and engaging young man” and said he had suffered from “significant mental illness over a number of years.” In a statement, they said: “The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
“The publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time. We ask people to stop doing this.
“The family are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their upmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did.”
The family added: “William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved – and William loved them back.
“Sadly, William suffered from significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication.
“It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death. We would ask everybody to respect that process.”
Chapman appeared in ITV's May Contain Nuts, alongside Harry Potter actress Shirley Henderson, and in the BBC's True Stories series, according to IMDB. He previously attended Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. Yorkshire Wildlife Park has remained closed since the incident.
