A coroner in Doncaster has given a provisional cause of death for William Chapman, the 24-year-old former child actor killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday, after hearing that he climbed two fences to get into the animal’s enclosure.
At the opening of the inquest at Doncaster Coroners Court on Thursday, the coroner said Chapman “climbed two fences and entered the tiger enclosure,” adding: “He approached the tiger and following an interaction suffered multiple traumatic injuries.”
The provisional cause of death was recorded as multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction. Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene in front of other visitors to the park. The five-year-old Siberian tiger involved, named Altai, was detained by park staff and, officials have confirmed, will not be euthanised.
Chapman’s family did not attend the hearing but told the coroner in advance that he “had a history of mental illness, a diagnosis of schizophrenia” and had previously experienced bouts of psychosis while under the care of mental health services.
“His family have expressed a number of concerns in relation to his contact with mental health services leading up to his death,” the coroner said.
The inquest has been adjourned to March 18 next year.
It remains unclear why Chapman entered the enclosure. He had been filming video from inside the pen before he was attacked. Witnesses said he was seen pacing with his headphones in and “happily dancing” before asking other visitors to photograph him with the tiger behind him. He was reportedly heard telling Altai to “stop being naughty” shortly before the animal attacked, dragging him into a wooded part of the enclosure.
Chapman, who worked as a trader, was remembered by his family as “a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved – and William loved them back.”
As a child, Chapman appeared in the 2009 two-part ITV miniseries “May Contain Nuts,” alongside Shirley Henderson, known for playing Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films. He had attended the Jackie Palmer Stage School, whose former pupils include Eddie Redmayne and James Corden.
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