William Chapman Identified After Fatal Tiger Attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

William Chapman has been identified as the man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, according to information understood by the BBC. South Yorkshire Police said the incident occurred shortly after 13:30 BST on Saturday, and Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Police confirmed that Chapman was visiting the wildlife park alone. His family has been informed and is receiving support from specialist officers. The park was evacuated following the incident and remains closed as investigations continue into the circumstances surrounding his death.

Eyewitnesses described seeing Chapman near the enclosure shortly before the attack. Ella Ford, 24, who was visiting with her boyfriend, said she saw him pacing around with headphones in before climbing onto the barriers. She told the BBC that he subsequently entered the enclosure and lay down near the tiger, which then attacked him.

Ford said some members of the public tried to distract the animal by banging on the fence, but their efforts were unsuccessful. She estimated that between 15 and 20 people were on the raised visitor walkway when the incident occurred. Park staff quickly evacuated the immediate area before clearing the wider site.

The tiger involved in the attack is a rare Amur tiger named Altai. Yorkshire Wildlife Park expressed its sympathy to Chapman’s family and confirmed that the animal would remain in its enclosure and would not be euthanised. The park has not provided further details about the circumstances of the incident in the information available.

The City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety investigation into the death, saying the inquiry was being conducted in line with its statutory responsibilities. The Born Free Foundation, which campaigns for the phasing out of zoos, called for an urgent review of how Chapman gained access to the enclosure and what happened afterwards.

Dr Campbell Murn, a former member of the government’s zoo expert committee and a lecturer at the University of Reading, said that determined individuals could sometimes breach zoo enclosures despite security measures. His comments came as investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the incident. Meanwhile, floral tributes have been left near the park entrance as the community responds to the tragedy.

The investigation is expected to examine the events leading up to the attack and how Chapman entered the enclosure. Authorities have not announced further findings, while the wildlife park remains closed pending the ongoing investigations.