Man killed by tiger at Yorkshire park had psychosis, inquest hears
A man killed by a tiger at a wildlife park in England died of his injuries, an inquest heard Thursday, the BBC and the Guardian reported. William Chapman, 24, had schizophrenia and past bouts of psychosis, the hearing was told. His family raised concerns about his mental health care, and the BBC said the case will resume March 18, 2027.
A man who was killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England died of "multiple traumatic injuries," the opening of his inquest heard Thursday, the BBC and the Guardian reported.
William Chapman, 24, climbed over two fences into the tiger's enclosure at the park near Doncaster on Saturday, both outlets reported. Senior coroner Nicola Mundy said he had a history of mental illness, a diagnosis of schizophrenia and past bouts of psychosis, the BBC reported.
Chapman was under adult mental health services in Doncaster but was "highly functioning and independent with no care requirements," the hearing at Doncaster coroner's court was told, both outlets reported. Coroner's officer Caitlin Brookes said his family had raised "a number of concerns" about his contact with those services. Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS foundation trust has started an investigation, both outlets reported.
A trust spokesperson told the BBC it would "continue to respect and protect patient confidentiality at all times and cannot comment on William's care."
The BBC reported the cause of death as "multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction." "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," Brookes told the hearing. Mundy said her office was waiting for a fuller report on his injuries. She asked the park to keep any relevant CCTV, the BBC reported.
Chapman's family chose not to attend. Mundy adjourned the inquest until March 18, 2027, the BBC reported.
The park, closed since the attack, will reopen Friday, a spokesperson said, according to both outlets. The park said the tiger, a male named Altai, "is safe and well and will not be euthanised," the Guardian reported. City of Doncaster council is running a health and safety investigation and will share the outcome with the coroner, the hearing was told.
Chapman's family spoke out Wednesday after President Donald Trump shared video of the attack with his 13 million followers on Truth Social and then posted an AI-generated video of himself with a tiger, the Guardian reported. The family said the footage being shared was "deeply offensive."
Correction: An earlier version of this card said Chapman was 23. He was 24, the inquest heard, according to the BBC, the Guardian and Sky News.
What we know: The inquest heard Chapman died of multiple traumatic injuries and had schizophrenia.
What we don't: What the full inquest in March will find about his care and how he got into the enclosure.
Where outlets agree The Guardian and the BBC both report that the inquest heard Chapman died of multiple traumatic injuries and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia.
Where they differ The outlets cited here report the same key facts so far.