William Chapman’s family has revealed the 23-year-old suffered from “significant mental illness” and was on strong medication before he jumped into a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
The family issued their first statement Tuesday, three days after the former child actor was fatally mauled by a Siberian tiger at the English zoo. They described themselves as “utterly devastated” and pleaded with authorities to investigate why their son entered the animal’s habitat.
“The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened,” the family said.
“William suffered from significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication,” they added.
The statement framed their son’s actions as uncharacteristic and deeply puzzling to those who knew him. They pressed investigators to uncover the circumstances that led to the fatal encounter.
“The family are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their utmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did,” the family continued.
Chapman’s relatives painted a portrait of a loving young man who maintained close bonds with his family despite his struggles. They remembered him as “a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved – and William loved them back.”
The disclosure of Chapman’s mental health history and medication regimen adds a layer of complexity to the investigation into how a visitor accessed the tiger enclosure at the South Yorkshire wildlife attraction. Park officials have not publicly detailed the security measures in place around the Siberian tiger habitat or how Chapman was able to breach them.
The family’s decision to disclose Chapman’s medical background appeared aimed at contextualizing behavior they themselves could not explain. Their statement emphasized both his clinical struggles and his personal virtues, presenting a young man defined by more than the circumstances of his death.
Chapman’s past as a child actor has drawn additional media attention to the case, though the family statement focused on his personal qualities rather than his brief entertainment career. The tribute emphasized reciprocal affection within the family unit, noting that William “loved them back.”
Reports said the family’s statement Tuesday as authorities continued their examination of the incident. The timing of the disclosure, on the third day after Chapman’s death, followed a period of silence as relatives processed the violent and public nature of the loss.
South Yorkshire Police and park officials have not indicated when their investigation might conclude or whether additional details about enclosure access will be released.