The family of William Chapman, the man who died following a fatal tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, has broken their silence to reveal that the former child actor had been struggling with “significant mental illness” for several years.
Mr. Chapman, who was in his mid-20s, was pronounced dead at the scene after entering a tiger enclosure. In a heartbreaking statement released on Monday evening, his grieving family described him as a “warm and engaging young man” while urging the public to stop circulating “deeply offensive” footage of the incident, which has caused them severe distress.
“The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened,” the statement read. “Sadly, William suffered from significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication. It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death. We would ask everybody to respect that process.”
The family also expressed a desire for a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, stating, “We are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their utmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did.”
Reports indicate that Mr. Chapman appeared to have filmed his final moments. A short, distressing video—reportedly uploaded to a now-deleted Instagram account—shows the individual inside the enclosure, with a large tiger visible on a wooden platform just meters away. The audio captures heavy breathing and the faint sound of distant voices reacting with shock.
Prior to his death, it was revealed that Mr. Chapman was a talented former child actor. His credits include appearances on major British networks, such as ITV’s May Contain Nuts, where he starred alongside actress Shirley Henderson, and the BBC’s True Stories series.
His former school, the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, issued a poignant tribute on Facebook, noting that staff were “deeply saddened” by the news. “We loved watching William grow, both as a person and as a performer, during his time with us,” the school wrote. “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.”
Yorkshire Wildlife Park, which has been closed since the incident occurred, is expected to remain shuttered for a fifth consecutive day on Wednesday as the investigation continues. Authorities are currently working to determine how the security of the enclosure was breached and to finalize the details surrounding the tragedy.
Disclaimer: This content is auto-generated for informational purposes only.
Source: Read Original News
