FORMER CHILD ACTOR WILLIAM CHAPMAN, 24, DIED AFTER ENTERING TIGER ENCLOSURE — FULL INQUEST SET FOR MARCH 2027

His family has asked the public to stop circulating distressing footage as investigations examine the circumstances surrounding his death at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.

An inquest has opened into the death of former child actor William Harry Bruce Chapman, who died after entering an Amur tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, England.

William, 24, died on October 10, 2026, after an encounter with a tiger named Altai. His death has prompted several investigations, including questions from his family about the mental health support he received before the tragedy.

At an initial hearing at Doncaster Coroner’s Court on October 15, the court heard that William had climbed over two fences before entering the enclosure at approximately 1:30 p.m.

The tiger approached him, and the physical encounter resulted in multiple traumatic injuries. Park staff secured the animal, and emergency responders attended, but William was pronounced dead at the scene.

An initial post-mortem examination gave the provisional cause of death as multiple traumatic injuries following animal interaction.

FAMILY ASKS PUBLIC TO STOP SHARING DISTRESSING FOOTAGE

In a statement released through South Yorkshire Police, William’s family described him as a “bright, warm and engaging young man” who was deeply loved by his relatives.

They also appealed for compassion and privacy as they struggled to come to terms with his death.

The family said William had experienced significant mental health difficulties over a number of years and had been prescribed strong medication.

They stressed that it would be for the coroner to determine what role, if any, his health and treatment played in the circumstances of his death.

The family also expressed distress over the circulation of videos and other online material relating to the incident.

“The publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time,” their statement said, asking people to stop sharing such material.

They further requested that members of the public respect their privacy and not approach their homes or seek additional personal information from family social media accounts.

QUESTIONS RAISED ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

During the opening of the inquest, the coroner’s officer told the court that William had a history of mental illness, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia and previous episodes of psychosis.

He had been under the care of adult mental health services in Doncaster.

Despite his medical history, the hearing was told that William was considered highly functioning and independent, with no care requirements.

His family had raised concerns about his contact with mental health services in the period leading up to his death.

The Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust has launched an investigation into the care he received.

The City of Doncaster Council, which is responsible for licensing the wildlife park, is also conducting a health and safety investigation.

Neither investigation has yet established a final explanation for the events of October 10.

A FORMER CHILD ACTOR WITH A LIFE BEYOND THE HEADLINES

William was born in Chichester in 2002 and was living in Doncaster at the time of his death.

He had appeared in television productions as a child, including the ITV comedy-drama May Contain Nuts and the BBC series True Stories.

At the time of his death, he was working as a self-employed online trader.

His family have asked the public to remember him as a loved son and family member rather than allowing distressing footage of the incident to define his life.

WHAT WILL THE FULL INQUEST EXAMINE?

The opening hearing was only a preliminary stage in the legal process. The full inquest is scheduled for March 18, 2027.

The coroner has requested further evidence, including relevant CCTV footage from the wildlife park and information about whether William had visited the attraction before.

The court is also expected to receive further information about his medical history and the support he received from mental health services.

The council’s safety investigation and the NHS trust’s review may also provide evidence relevant to the proceedings.

For now, no final conclusions have been reached about the circumstances that led William to enter the enclosure or whether any failures contributed to his death.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park confirmed that the Amur tiger, Altai, was safe and would not be euthanised following the incident.

As the investigations continue, William’s family are asking for privacy, compassion and respect.

Behind the headlines was a young man loved by his family — and they are determined that his life should be remembered with dignity.