The City of Doncaster Council has opened a health and safety investigation following the death of William Chapman at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. The 23-year-old former child actor was killed by a tiger after entering its enclosure on Saturday. Officials are now working to determine how the breach occurred.
A health and safety inquiry into the death of William Chapman has been started by the City of Doncaster Council. This probe follows the fatal incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday, 11 October 2026. Authorities are seeking to understand the circumstances that allowed the man to enter the animal enclosure.
The investigation comes after it was reported that Chapman scaled a fence to enter the pen. He was subsequently attacked by Altai, a male Siberian Amur tiger. The incident took place shortly after 13:30 BST on Saturday, according to BBC News.
Following the event, the Yorkshire Wildlife Park was evacuated. The park remained closed on Wednesday, 14 October. The council is now leading the formal inquiry into the safety measures in place at the site. This follows our earlier report of 11 October 2026.
William Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene following the attack. According to BBC News, the 23-year-old was a former child actor. The animal involved in the attack was a male Siberian Amur tiger named Altai, who weighs 200kg, according to The Guardian.
An eyewitness reported seeing Chapman wearing headphones and pacing near the enclosure before he entered. The family has stated that Chapman had suffered from significant mental illness for several years and was being prescribed strong medication. This information highlights the personal circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
South Yorkshire Police have confirmed that specialist officers are providing support to the family. While the investigation continues, the coroner will be tasked with deciding what role mental illness played in the death.
The incident has raised questions regarding the ability of zoos to prevent unauthorised access. Experts from the University of Oxford and the University of Reading suggested it is virtually impossible for zoos to prevent determined individuals from breaching safety measures. These specialists noted the difficulty of securing enclosures against such actions.
The Born Free Foundation, an organisation that advocates for the phasing out of zoos, has demanded an immediate reassessment of how the man gained access to the pen. This call for scrutiny comes as the park remains closed to the public. The focus remains on whether existing barriers were sufficient.
Authorities are currently working to determine why the man was able to enter the enclosure. The findings of the council's health and safety investigation will be a central part of this process. The coroner's decision regarding mental health will also be a key factor in the official record.
The family of William Chapman has requested that the public stop circulating deeply offensive media content. This includes the distribution of AI-generated fakes and videos of onlookers urging Chapman to play dead. The family is seeking to protect his memory during this difficult period.
Donald Trump, the US President, posted footage of the attack to his Truth Social platform. According to The Guardian, this was a 41-second silent video. The platform has 13 million followers, according to The Independent.
The post also included a 24-second video compilation of lion attacks, as reported by The Guardian. In the footage shared, Donald Trump said, "Don’t ever mess with nature!", according to The Independent. The circulation of such material has been met with strong disapproval from the deceased's relatives.
William Chapman had a career as a child actor, appearing in several productions. He was featured in the ITV programme May Contain Nuts and the BBC series True Stories. In True Stories, he portrayed the character Edward Jenner.
During his time at the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, he was recognised for his talent. The school stated, "We loved watching William grow, both as a person and as a performer, during his time with us.", according to The Independent.
His family has spoken about his character following the tragedy. "William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved – and William loved them back.", the family of William Chapman said, according to The Independent. The investigation by the City of Doncaster Council continues.
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