“OUR AMAZING SON WAS DEEPLY LOVED”: WILLIAM CHAPMAN’S FAMILY SPEAKS OUT AFTER YORKSHIRE WILDLIFE PARK TRAGEDY

William’s loved ones have paid tribute to a young man they described as bright, warm and engaging, while asking the public to stop circulating distressing footage of his final moments.

The family of William Chapman has shared an emotional tribute following his death at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster, saying their beloved son was a young man who was deeply loved by those closest to him.

William died on Saturday, October 10, after entering a tiger enclosure at the wildlife park. The incident prompted an emergency response and left his family and the wider community devastated.

In a statement released through South Yorkshire Police, his family remembered him as a “bright, warm and engaging young man” who loved his family as much as they loved him.

They also revealed that William had experienced significant mental health difficulties over a number of years and had been prescribed strong medication.

HIS FAMILY’S HEARTBREAKING TRIBUTE

The family said they were struggling to come to terms with their loss.

They explained that William had faced serious mental health challenges and said it would be for the coroner to establish whether his condition or medication played any part in his death.

They urged the public to respect the process and avoid speculation while the authorities continue their enquiries.

Their statement also included a plea about footage of the incident.

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

They also requested privacy and asked members of the public not to approach their homes or collect further personal information from William’s or his relatives’ social media accounts.

WHAT HAPPENED AT YORKSHIRE WILDLIFE PARK?

Emergency services were called shortly after 1:30pm on October 10 after William entered the tiger enclosure at the park.

Police said he was visiting the wildlife park alone.

An inquest opening later heard that William climbed over two fences before entering the enclosure. He sustained multiple traumatic injuries following contact with the tiger and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The animal involved was an Amur tiger named Altai. The wildlife park confirmed that the tiger would not be euthanised following the incident.

The park was temporarily closed while authorities and investigators examined what had happened.

QUESTIONS ABOUT HIS MENTAL HEALTH

At the opening of the inquest on October 15, the coroner’s court heard that William had a history of mental illness, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia and previous episodes of psychosis.

He had been receiving support from adult mental health services but was described at the hearing as highly functioning and independent.

His family also raised concerns about his contact with mental health services before his death.

An initial post-mortem examination found that William died from multiple traumatic injuries. A full inquest is scheduled for March 18, 2027.

The role, if any, played by his mental health or prescribed medication remains a matter for the coroner to examine.

REMEMBERING THE PERSON BEHIND THE TRAGEDY

William had previously attended Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, where former teachers and fellow students also shared tributes.

The school remembered him fondly, saying it had been a privilege to watch him grow as both a person and a performer.

For his family, however, the loss is deeply personal.

They want William to be remembered as their amazing son — a bright, warm and engaging young man who was loved.

As the investigation continues, their message to the public remains clear: respect their privacy, do not circulate distressing footage, and allow them the space to grieve.