What we know about wildlife park tiger attack

Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster remains closed after a man died in the tiger enclosure on Saturday.

Here's what we know so far about the attack.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park was busy with visitors when the alarm was raised on Saturday afternoon.

Emergency services were called to the park at about 13:30 BST to reports a man had climbed into the tiger enclosure from a high walkway.

Visitors were moved away from the area as the tiger attacked the man, who died a short time later.

Staff erected screens around the enclosure to block the view as emergency services responded.

The park confirmed the rare Amur tiger, called Altai, remained safely in the enclosure and would not be euthanised.

The park was closed on Saturday and was expected to reopen on Friday 16 October.

Footage of the incident has been widely shared on social media, including by US President Donald Trump on Tuesday.

Downing Street said people should respect the family's views on sharing footage of the incident, but declined to comment on Trump's decision to post the video.

The man who was fatally attacked was 24-year-old William Chapman, who was living in Doncaster and was born in Chichester, West Sussex.

In a family statement, the self-employed online trader was described as "a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved - and William loved them back".

The statement said he had suffered from "significant mental illness" over a number of years and had been prescribed "strong medication".

Chapman was a former pupil of the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, and went on to appear in a number of television programmes, including the BBC series True Stories.

South Yorkshire Police confirmed Chapman was visiting the park on his own.

An inquest into Chapman's death, which opened on Thursday, found he had climbed two fences to enter the tiger enclosure at the wildlife park and died of "multiple traumatic injuries".

Nicola Mundy, senior coroner at Doncaster Coroner's Court, said Chapman had a history of mental illness, a diagnosis of schizophrenia and had suffered previous bouts of psychosis.

His family had raised concerns about his contact with Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust, the hearing was told.

Chapman was under adult mental health services in Doncaster but was "highly functioning and independent with no care requirements", the inquest heard.

The trust has launched an investigation following his death.

On Wednesday, a trust spokesperson said it would "never comment on whether someone uses our services or does not use our services".

The BBC approached the trust for further comment following the opening of the inquest.

Chapman's family chose not to attend the hearing, which was adjourned until 18 March 2027.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park spans 150 acres with 15 unique habitats featuring wide paths and raised viewing areas.

It focuses on large animal conservation, and counts species including lions, meerkats, lemurs, African penguins and sea lions among its residents.

The tigers are housed in the park's Land of the Tigers, which has a 300m-long raised walkway so visitors can watch the animals from above.

The park's website says people can witness the "majestic cats freely roaming their woodlands and grasslands or playing in their very own waterfall pool".

Altai is a rare Amur tiger, also known as a Siberian tiger, the largest big cat in the world.

According to the park, the average weight for males is 160-190kg (25-30 stone), while females are smaller, at 110-130kg (17-20 stone).

Altai, now five years old, moved to Yorkshire Wildlife Park from Dyreparken in Norway in February 2025.

The tiger was moved to Doncaster as part of the international EAZA European Endangered Species Programme for Amur tigers, to join the park's resident tigress Tschuna.

Dyreparken biologist Helene Axelsen said: "We were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park over the weekend.

"Our thoughts are first and foremost with the victim's family, loved ones, and the entire team at Yorkshire Wildlife Park during this extremely difficult time."

A spokesperson for the park thanked everyone who showed concern after the incident.

In a statement on Sunday, they said: "Our thoughts and heartfelt sympathies remain with the family and loved ones of the man who tragically lost his life.

"The park will be closed today and the staff team who were deeply affected by events will receive specialist support.

"Many, many people have contacted us about Altai, the tiger.

"We can reassure everyone that he is safe and well and will not be euthanised as a result of this incident."

Dr David Sands, a human-companion animal practitioner at the Animal Behavioural Clinic in Chorley, Lancashire, said tigers were predators that would naturally attack.

"The animal is just being the animal that a million years of evolution has produced," he said.

"It is the top apex predator of its group of animals.

"I don't think any blame could be put on the animal itself."

He added: "Tigers are territorial. This is a male tiger and the incredible weight and power, there's only one outcome because the tiger is in captivity - the enclosure is its territory and a male who can be scented becomes either competition or prey.

"We're so used to seeing them on the small screen in wildlife documentaries.

"This is a very big animal that's got the power to bite and break through bones."

City of Doncaster Council confirmed a health and safety investigation had been launched into the death of the man in the enclosure.

Dan Swaine, the local authority's executive director of place, said the council was "deeply saddened" by the incident and sent its "deepest sympathies" to the man's family and those who were at the scene.

"As the relevant licensing authority for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, I can confirm that, in line with our statutory duties, the council has launched a health and safety investigation," he said.

"We are also working with multiple agencies, including the police and health agencies, and are supporting the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in response to the incident."

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