The family of William Chapman has broken their silence after the 20-something died inside a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, releasing a statement that described him as “bright, warm and engaging” while revealing he had battled significant mental illness for years.
Chapman, who was in his mid-20s, entered the big cat’s pen at the popular South Yorkshire attraction on Saturday afternoon and suffered catastrophic injuries during the attack. Emergency responders rushed to the scene shortly after 1:30 p.m. BST, but he was pronounced dead inside the enclosure despite their efforts.
“William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved—and William loved them back,” the family said in their statement, which was released Tuesday evening. “The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened.”
The relatives also disclosed that Chapman had been prescribed “strong medication” to manage his prolonged mental health struggles. However, they emphasized that it remains the coroner’s responsibility to determine whether those challenges directly contributed to his actions on Saturday.
“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,” the statement continued.
The incident triggered an immediate evacuation of visitors and staff from the surrounding grounds. The wildlife park, located in Auckley near Doncaster, remained closed to the public for three consecutive days as authorities secured the scene.
City of Doncaster Council has since launched a comprehensive health and safety investigation into the fatal breach. Investigators from local regulatory departments and wildlife welfare bodies are expected to examine the physical barriers, visitor security perimeters, and emergency response procedures around the tiger enclosure.
The park houses a wide range of endangered predators and large carnivores and ranks among the UK’s most frequently visited animal conservation reserves. Officials there have maintained close cooperation with emergency services, health inspectors, and council representatives throughout the ongoing probe into how the perimeter was breached.
Officials confirmed that the tiger responsible for Chapman’s fatal injuries will not be euthanized.