Man killed by tiger died from ‘multiple injuries’
Inquest hears Doncaster man died after entering tiger enclosure
Constantvpn.com – A 24-year-old man who entered a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster died from multiple traumatic injuries following contact with the animal, an inquest has been told.
William Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday after climbing two fences and entering the tiger’s pen. The opening hearing at Doncaster Coroner’s Court heard that his cause of death was recorded as “multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction”.
The incident happened shortly after 13:30 BST and resulted in the wildlife park being evacuated. The park has remained closed since then, with no reopening date yet announced.
Details from the opening hearing
Senior coroner Nicola Mundy heard that Mr Chapman was approached by the tiger after entering the enclosure. Coroner’s officer Caitlin Brookes described how the encounter quickly became fatal.
“He was approached by the tiger and the ensuing physical contact between the tiger and Mr Chapman led to him sustaining multiple traumatic injuries which rapidly led to his death.”
Staff at the park secured the tiger after the incident, while paramedics attended and confirmed that Mr Chapman had died. The coroner said a fuller medical report setting out the extent of his injuries was still awaited.
South Yorkshire Police have supplied witness statements from members of the public and park employees who were present. The coroner has also asked Yorkshire Wildlife Park to preserve relevant CCTV footage and to confirm whether Mr Chapman had made any earlier visits to the site.
The inquest was opened on Thursday morning and then adjourned until 18 March 2027. Mr Chapman’s family did not attend the hearing.
Mental health concerns raised
The court heard that Mr Chapman had a history of mental illness, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia and previous episodes of psychosis. He was receiving support through adult mental health services in Doncaster, although the hearing was told that he was highly independent and had no identified care requirements.
His family had raised concerns connected to his dealings with Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust. The trust has begun an investigation following his death.
A spokesperson for the trust said on Wednesday that it would not comment publicly on whether an individual did or did not use its services. Further comment was sought in relation to the concerns raised by Mr Chapman’s family.
Mr Chapman was born in Chichester, West Sussex, and was living in Doncaster when he died. He worked as a self-employed online trader.
Witness accounts and ongoing enquiries
One eyewitness described seeing Mr Chapman near the enclosure before the incident, wearing headphones and pacing. Mobile phone footage believed to have been taken by Mr Chapman appears to show the inside of the enclosure as he moved across grass towards the tiger.
The animal involved was Altai, a rare Amur tiger. The park has said the tiger was safely contained after the incident and will not be euthanised.
Amur tigers are among the world’s most threatened big cat populations in the wild. In a controlled wildlife park setting, enclosures are designed to separate visitors from animals capable of causing severe injury. The circumstances in this case centre on Mr Chapman’s entry into an area not intended for public access.
City of Doncaster Council has opened a health and safety investigation. Such an inquiry can examine the physical layout of the site, operating procedures, staff response and any other factors relevant to the incident. The coroner’s process will separately consider how Mr Chapman came by his death and whether further action or reporting is needed.
Park remains closed
Yorkshire Wildlife Park has not confirmed when visitors will be able to return. The closure affects a major visitor attraction in the Doncaster area and allows investigators to preserve evidence while enquiries continue.
Park staff acted to secure Altai after the attack, and emergency services attended the scene. No further injuries have been reported in connection with the incident.
The adjournment means many questions will remain unresolved until further evidence is collected, including the more detailed medical assessment, witness material, CCTV and information requested from the park. The hearing in March 2027 is expected to consider that evidence in greater depth.
For now, the known circumstances are that Mr Chapman entered the tiger enclosure after crossing two fences, was injured during contact with the animal and died at the wildlife park. Investigations by the coroner, police-related evidence gathering, the NHS trust and the local authority are continuing.
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