Former Child Actor William Chapman Named as Man Killed by Tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

A man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at a wildlife park in South Yorkshire has been named as William Chapman, the BBC has learned. Chapman, who was in his mid-twenties, was visiting Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on his own when the incident occurred shortly after 13:30 BST on Saturday. According to South Yorkshire Police, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The force has confirmed that Chapman's family has been informed of his death and is being supported by specialist officers during what police described as an extremely difficult time. The park was evacuated following the attack and remains closed while investigations into the circumstances continue.

According to witness accounts, Chapman entered the enclosure after climbing down from a raised visitor walkway. One eyewitness described seeing him wearing headphones and pacing near the enclosure before he went inside. Mobile phone footage believed to have been recorded by Chapman himself appears to show the interior of the enclosure as he approaches the tiger across a grassy area. That social media account has since been removed.

The animal involved is a rare Amur tiger named Altai. Yorkshire Wildlife Park has confirmed that the tiger remains in its enclosure and will not be euthanised in the wake of the attack. In a statement, the park said its thoughts and heartfelt sympathies were with Chapman's family.

It has emerged that Chapman was a former pupil of the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe. As a child, he appeared in the ITV production "May Contain Nuts" alongside Shirley Henderson, best known for her role as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter film series, and actor Darren Boyd. He also portrayed Edward Jenner in the BBC series "True Stories."

An eyewitness, Ella Ford, 24, from Moreton in Wirral, had been visiting the park with her boyfriend and had filmed the tiger just minutes before the attack. She described seeing Chapman near the enclosure pacing around with his headphones in. A short time later, she said, she saw him climb up onto the barriers. According to her account, a woman was nearby speaking to him before he jumped in and crawled in front of the tiger, which was perched on a platform, and lay down.

Ford said she then watched as the tiger seized hold of Chapman, who was shouting for help. She estimated that between 15 and 20 people were on the raised visitor walkway at the time before staff moved quickly to evacuate the area and, shortly afterwards, the entire park. She described the reaction of members of the public as one of confusion, with people unsure about what on earth was happening. She also recalled seeing someone banging on the fence in an attempt to distract the tiger, though the effort proved unsuccessful.

Those who witnessed the attack have said some onlookers tried unsuccessfully to divert the animal's attention away from Chapman. Other visitors described hearing what sounded like gunshots, and an air ambulance was seen circling overhead in the aftermath of the incident.

Karmelle Pelham, 39, from Worksop, had been enjoying a family day out at the park when staff informed visitors that the site was being evacuated. She later noted that a large black tarpaulin had been placed over the tiger enclosure. Pelham praised the park's staff for their handling of the situation, describing the evacuation as very, very well organised despite the distressing circumstances.

Floral tributes have since been laid at the entrance to the park near Doncaster, where a green fabric sign hangs on a large wooden frame surrounded by grass. The flowers mark a growing memorial for Chapman as the local community comes to terms with the rare and fatal incident.

City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety investigation into Chapman's death. A spokesperson for the council said the inquiry is being carried out in line with its statutory duties. The investigation will examine how Chapman was able to gain access to the enclosure and what transpired once he was inside.

The Born Free Foundation, a wildlife charity that campaigns to phase out zoos, has called for an urgent review into how the man managed to enter the enclosure and what happened next. The organisation's intervention reflects broader concerns about safety protocols at captive animal facilities, particularly those housing large predators.

Dr Campbell Murn, a former member of the government's zoo expert committee and a lecturer at the University of Reading, offered a measured perspective on the incident, describing it as a tragic event while noting that determined individuals can sometimes find ways into zoo enclosures despite extensive security measures. He compared the situation to that of a determined thief who will get into somebody's house or car despite the best security systems, suggesting that such incidents, while rare, can occur despite safeguards.

Police have said their inquiries are ongoing, and the park is expected to remain closed for the time being. The dual investigations — one by the local authority and another by police — will seek to establish a full picture of the events leading up to Chapman's death. The case has drawn attention to the wider questions of enclosure security, visitor safety, and the responsibilities of wildlife parks that house dangerous animals.