William Chapman’s family has spoken out after the former child actor was killed by a tiger at a British wildlife park.
Chapman, who was in his mid-20s, died Saturday at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in northern England after entering the enclosure housing Altai, an Amur tiger. Emergency responders rushed to the scene shortly after 1:30 p.m. BST but pronounced him dead despite their efforts.
The family released a statement on October 13 after he was identified, writing: “William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved—and William loved them back.”
They continued: “The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened.”
His acting career included roles in several UK television productions. He appeared alongside Shirley Henderson, known for playing Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter film series, in the 2009 ITV production “May Contain Nuts.” In 2012, he starred in the BBC True Stories series as a young boy named Edward Jenner. His mother had described him as “passionate about acting and drama” in a blog post from more than 12 years ago. He had attended performing arts school from age four.
The Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, where Chapman trained, posted a tribute on Facebook. “Our thoughts and heartfelt condolences are with William’s family and friends during this incredibly difficult time,” they wrote.
They added: “We loved watching William grow, both as a person and as a performer, during his time with us. 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.”
The school concluded by saying Chapman will “always have a special place in their heart.”
According to his mother’s blog, Chapman also worked as an extra on the 2015 film “Pan,” which starred Levi Miller and Hugh Jackman. She called it a “wonderful experience for him.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park addressed the incident in a statement posted to X on Sunday. “We would like to thank everyone who has expressed their concern following yesterday’s tragic incident,” the post read. The park also confirmed that staff members “deeply affected by events” would receive specialist support.
The park’s specialized tiger enclosure houses two Amur tigers, Altai and Tschuna, within a secured two-acre habitat. Guests view the animals from a 300-meter raised walkway above the area. The park confirmed that Altai would not be euthanized following the incident. “Many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger,” the statement continued. “We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident.”
The incident occurred when Chapman entered the tiger enclosure during afternoon hours at the park, which is located in Doncaster, South Yorkshire. Police have not disclosed how he gained access to the secured habitat.