The devastated family of William Chapman, the young man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, have broken their silence with an emotional tribute to their son.
Chapman, believed to have been in his mid-20s, died on Saturday, October 10, after entering an enclosure housing an Amur tiger at the popular wildlife attraction near Doncaster.
Emergency services rushed to the scene shortly after 1.30pm, but he was pronounced dead following the incident.
Now, his family have released a statement revealing more about the person he was, while also sharing details of the difficulties he had experienced in the years before his death.
William Chapman's family release emotional statement
In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, October 13, Chapman's family described the devastating impact of losing their son.
They remembered William as a much-loved young man whose personality had brought happiness to those closest to him.
"William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved—and William loved them back," the family said.
They continued: "The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened."
The tribute offers a personal glimpse into the life of a young man whose death has attracted widespread attention across the UK and internationally.
Family reveal William had experienced mental health difficulties
Alongside their tribute, Chapman's relatives disclosed that he had experienced serious mental health difficulties over a prolonged period.
According to the family's statement, William had suffered from "significant mental illness" and had been prescribed "strong medication" to help manage his condition.
However, they made clear that the circumstances surrounding his decision to enter the tiger enclosure have not yet been established.
His family said it would be for the coroner to determine whether his mental health difficulties had any bearing on the events of Saturday afternoon.
They also expressed their hope that investigators would establish exactly what happened and why.
"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," their statement read.
No official finding has established that Chapman's mental health or medication caused or contributed to his actions, and it would be premature to draw such a conclusion.
What happened at Yorkshire Wildlife Park?
The fatal incident occurred on Saturday, October 10, when Chapman entered an enclosure containing Amur tigers at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Auckley, near Doncaster.
Witnesses reported seeing a man approaching the enclosure before climbing over barriers and entering the animals' habitat.
He was subsequently attacked by a tiger named Altai.
Park employees responded to the emergency, while visitors were moved away from the surrounding area.
Emergency services attended shortly after 1.30pm, but Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene.
South Yorkshire Police later confirmed that he had been visiting the attraction alone.
The incident prompted the temporary closure of the wildlife park while authorities carried out their initial investigations.
William Chapman previously appeared on BBC and ITV
Following his identification, reports also revealed that Chapman had worked as a child actor.
He appeared in the 2009 ITV comedy-drama May Contain Nuts, which featured actress Shirley Henderson.
He also portrayed a young Edward Jenner in a 2012 BBC educational production from its True Stories series.
Chapman previously attended Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
The school paid tribute to its former student following news of his death, expressing sadness and remembering his development as both a person and a performer.
Will the tiger involved in the attack be put down?
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has confirmed that Altai, the tiger involved in the fatal encounter, will not be euthanised.
Altai is an Amur tiger, an endangered subspecies also commonly known as the Siberian tiger.
He shares an enclosure with another tiger named Tschuna and was transferred to the park from Norway in 2025.
The wildlife park has expressed its condolences to Chapman's family and confirmed that it is cooperating with the relevant authorities.
Investigation launched into William Chapman's death
City of Doncaster Council has confirmed that it has opened a health and safety investigation into the incident.
As the licensing authority for Yorkshire Wildlife Park, the council is working alongside police and other agencies to examine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
Investigators are expected to consider how Chapman entered the enclosure, the safety measures in place and the response to the emergency.
A coroner will also consider the evidence surrounding his death, including any relevant medical information.
For now, Chapman's family are seeking answers while mourning the loss of a son they have described with love and affection.
Their statement is a reminder that behind the widely reported tragedy is a grieving family hoping to understand the circumstances of William's final moments.
