BREAKING: Former Child Actor Mauled to Death by Tiger; Family Says He Struggled With Significant Mental Health Issues
Authorities and coroner officials have confirmed the identity of the 24-year-old man fatally mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park as William Chapman, a former British child actor who had been living with severe mental health challenges.
The incident occurred shortly after 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 10, 2026, when Chapman, visiting the wildlife reserve alone, climbed over safety barriers and entered the enclosure housing an Amur tiger named Altai. Park emergency staff quickly secured the animal, but responding paramedics declared Chapman dead at the scene from multiple traumatic injuries.
As a child, Chapman trained at the Jackie Palmer Stage School and appeared in BBC and ITV productions, including May Contain Nuts and a portrayal of a young Edward Jenner in the BBC series True Stories. At the time of his death, he worked as a self-employed online trader residing in Doncaster.
During the formal opening of the coroner’s inquest in Doncaster, officials disclosed that Chapman had a documented diagnosis of schizophrenia, had experienced past bouts of psychosis, and was under treatment with prescribed medication. Coroner’s officer Caitlin Brookes noted that Chapman’s family had raised serious concerns regarding his prior interactions and care with mental health services leading up to the tragedy.
In a public statement, Chapman’s family described him as a “bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved,” while expressing deep anguish over the loss and asking the public to cease circulating footage of the fatal encounter online.
Park officials confirmed the tiger will not be euthanized, and the City of Doncaster Council has initiated an official health and safety investigation. A full coroner’s inquest into the circumstances of Chapman’s death has been scheduled for March 18, 2027.
