Family pays tribute to 'warm and engaging' man killed in tiger attack

The family of a man who was killed by a tiger after he entered its enclosure at a wildlife park has paid tribute, describing him as "bright, warm and engaging".

William Chapman, 23, visited Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on Saturday and was attacked after going into the animal's pen. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

In a statement, his family said that he had suffered from "significant mental illness" over a number of years and had been prescribed "strong medication".

His family added: "It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death. We would ask everybody to respect that process."

City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety investigation into Chapman's death.

The park remains closed and a reopening date has not yet been confirmed.

"William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved - and William loved them back," a statement released on Tuesday evening said.

The family also asked for privacy, saying "the publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time".

"The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened," the statement continued.

"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."

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police said Chapman's family were being supported by specialist officers.

An inquest is due to open into the death at Doncaster Coroner's Court on Thursday.

Footage of the incident has been widely shared on social media, including on Tuesday evening by US President Donald Trump.

Downing Street said people should respect the family's views on sharing footage of the incident, but declined to comment on Trump's decision to post the video.

The prime minister's official spokesman said: "I think obviously the family have made their position clear. Of course, we respect that position.

"I'm not going to comment on the president's social media channels, he's got a press secretary who can speak to that."

Also commenting on the sharing of videos on social media and Trump's posts, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said his office had been in contact with Chapman's family on Tuesday, with his relatives "sharing the pain and suffering it's causing them knowing that videos and pictures of his death are being shared across social media".

Coppard also urged people not to speculate about the incident online.

"That speculation adds to the pain being endured by Mr Chapman's family," he said.

"Answers will come in time."

The incident, which took place shortly after 13:30 BST on Saturday, led to the evacuation and ongoing closure of the park.

An eyewitness described seeing Chapman wearing headphones and "pacing around" near the enclosure before he went in.

Mobile phone footage, believed to be from Chapman, appears to show the inside of the enclosure as he approaches the tiger across a patch of grass.

Chapman was a former pupil of the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe.

"We loved watching William grow, both as a person and as a performer, during his time with us," the school said in a tributeon Tuesday.

"It was a privilege to be part of his journey, and he will be remembered with great fondness by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him."

"Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with William's family and friends during this incredibly difficult time," the statement continued.

As a child, Chapman appeared in the ITV production May Contain Nuts alongside Shirley Henderson - who is best known for playing Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films - and Darren Boyd.

He also portrayed Edward Jenner in the BBC series True Stories.

Staff at Yorkshire Wildlife Park have separately said their "thoughts and heartfelt sympathies" are with Chapman's family and confirmed the rare Amur tiger, called Altai, remained in the enclosure and would not be euthanised.

Dan Swaine, the local authority's executive director of place, said the council was "deeply saddened" by the incident and sent its "deepest sympathies" to Chapman's family and those who were at the scene.

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