'Bright, warm and engaging': Tributes paid to 23-year-old killed in tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

The family of a young man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at a Yorkshire wildlife park have spoken of their devastation, describing him as a "bright, warm and engaging" person whom they loved dearly.

William Chapman, 23, was visiting Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on Saturday when he was attacked after going into the pen holding a rare Amur tiger. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident occurred shortly after 13:30 BST, prompting the evacuation of the park and its ongoing closure.

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, Chapman's relatives said he had suffered from "significant mental illness" over a number of years and had been prescribed "strong medication". They added that it would be for a coroner to determine what role this played in his death, and asked the public to respect that process.

The tribute painted a picture of a much-loved son whose family remain unable to comprehend what happened. "William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved - and William loved them back," the statement said.

The family also issued a plea for privacy, saying the "publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content" was causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time. They said they were "utterly devastated" by their loss and were "struggling to come to terms with what has happened", adding that they hoped the relevant authorities would do their utmost to establish why their "amazing son did what he did".

A spokesperson for South Yorkshire Police confirmed that Chapman's family were being supported by specialist officers. An inquest into the death is due to open at Doncaster Coroner's Court on Thursday.

City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death. Dan Swaine, the local authority's executive director of place, said the council was "deeply saddened" by the incident and extended its "deepest sympathies" to Chapman's family and to those who had been at the scene.

The park remains closed, and no reopening date has yet been confirmed. Staff at Yorkshire Wildlife Park said their "thoughts and heartfelt sympathies" were with Chapman's family, and confirmed that the tiger involved - a rare Amur tiger named Altai - remained in its enclosure and would not be euthanised.

An eyewitness described seeing Chapman wearing headphones and "pacing around" 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 patch of grass. A separate photograph taken by an eyewitness captured the tiger lounging on a wooden platform minutes before the attack.

Footage of the incident has been widely shared on social media, including on Tuesday evening by US President Donald Trump. Downing Street said people should respect the family's views on the sharing of such material, but declined to comment directly on Trump's decision to post the video. The prime minister's official spokesman said: "I think obviously the family have made their position clear. Of course, we respect that position. I'm not going to comment on the president's social media channels, he's got a press secretary who can speak to that."

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard said his office had been in contact with Chapman's family on Tuesday, and that relatives had spoken of "the pain and suffering it's causing them knowing that videos and pictures of his death are being shared across social media". He also urged people not to speculate about the incident online, warning that such speculation "adds to the pain being endured by Mr Chapman's family". He added: "Answers will come in time."

Floral tributes have been laid outside the entrance to the park near Doncaster, where visitors and local residents have gathered to pay their respects. The site, a popular family attraction, has remained shut since the weekend as investigators continue their work.

Chapman was a former pupil of the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, which paid tribute on Tuesday. "We loved watching William grow, both as a person and as a performer, during his time with us," the school said. "It was a privilege to be part of his journey, and he will be remembered with great fondness by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing him."

As a child, Chapman appeared in the ITV production "May Contain Nuts" alongside Shirley Henderson, best known for playing Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films, and Darren Boyd. He also portrayed Edward Jenner in the BBC series "True Stories". His family handout photographs show him smiling in front of a waterfall and standing before a panoramic countryside view.

The death has raised difficult questions about mental health support, the responsibilities of wildlife parks and the ethics of sharing graphic content online. Amur tigers, also known as Siberian tigers, are among the world's rarest big cats, and the park's decision to keep Altai alive reflects standard practice in such cases, where animals are generally not destroyed following an accidental human intrusion.

The coroner's inquest is expected to examine the sequence of events in detail, including how Chapman was able to enter the enclosure and what warnings or barriers were in place. The health and safety investigation by the council will run alongside that process, with findings potentially informing future safety measures at the site and at similar attractions across the country.