A witness has described the moment a man entered a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park before being killed in an attack. Ella Ford, 24, from Moreton, was visiting the park near Doncaster with her partner on Saturday afternoon when she saw William Chapman accessing the tiger habitat.
Witness Saw Victim Pacing on Walkway
Ella, who had been watching the tigers, said she noticed Chapman walking in circles on the elevated walkway above the enclosure, wearing headphones and appearing "happy". She told the Liverpool Echo: "I only noticed him because he was pacing around. Other than that, I wouldn't have noticed anything out of the ordinary."
"I had a look around and I didn't see anyone with him. I just assumed his family were further down the bridge and he was waiting for them or something," she added.
Victim Climbed Fence and Approached Tiger
Ella said she and her partner continued along the walkway to view another tiger before seeing Chapman climbing a wooden fence. She said: "He stayed for a minute or so. My first thought was that he was trying to get a closer look at the tiger. I never thought he would try and go in. I tapped my partner and was like, 'What's going on?'"
Moments later, Ella said Chapman descended into the enclosure and moved towards a tiger resting nearby. She said her partner saw Chapman retrieve his mobile phone and move closer to the animal.
Onlookers Tried to Scare Off Animal
Ella described how the incident unfolded with alarming swiftness, as onlookers frantically attempted to call for help while the tiger carried out its assault. She revealed how one man tried to frighten the animal off by banging on the enclosure fence, but the creature took no notice.
She said: "It's all a bit of a blur. I tried to look away but I couldn't. I just remember hearing people say 'Oh my God'. Everyone was trying to get their kids away because they knew what was about to happen."
Ella explained that zoo staff began clearing the pathway within seconds, before the whole site was evacuated. She added: "I just can't stop thinking about it. It's heartbreaking."
Chapman, who was in his mid-20s, was pronounced dead at the scene following the incident at approximately 1.30pm on Saturday. His family have since released a tribute, describing him as a "bright, warm and engaging young man" who had battled serious mental health difficulties for a number of years. In a statement released on Tuesday, his relatives disclosed that William had suffered from "significant mental illness" over a number of years and had been receiving "strong medication".
