Yorkshire Wildlife Park Reopens Tiger Area to Thin Crowds

Yorkshire Wildlife Park opened its gates again on Friday, October 16, six days after a tiger killed a 24-year-old man who had climbed into its enclosure.

The park near Doncaster, in northern England, welcomed visitors back under autumn sunshine to a site that stayed mostly quiet. Park and security staff were posted along the walkway that runs around the tiger enclosures, and at times there were more of them than there were members of the public.

Land of the Tigers, the exhibit where William Chapman died on Saturday, October 10, reopened with the rest of the park. Altai, the five-year-old Amur tiger involved, was back out, in the area next to the enclosure where the attack happened. Photos published Friday showed him lounging on the grass and roaring.

What happened on October 10

Chapman climbed over two fences at around 1:30 p.m. that Saturday and walked into the enclosure housing Altai. Emergency services were called minutes later. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

The New York Post reported that parkgoers saw him dancing happily before the attack and asking a stranger to take a photo of him with the tiger in the background. "One more, one more, one more!" he said in footage filmed by the stranger's partner, then: "Thank you, lady." Del Taylor, the woman who took the pictures, said he was so happy.

Onlookers told the New York Post that Chapman appeared "not attached to reality" once Altai turned on him, and that he told the animal to "stop being naughty" as it mauled him. Park workers fired warning shots to drive the tiger off, and Altai retreated to his pen while staff rushed in.

The attack happened in front of visitors, and the park was evacuated as emergency crews arrived. South Yorkshire Police said it is not believed Chapman was with anyone. He had traveled to the park alone from Doncaster, where he was living.

The inquest opened in Doncaster on Thursday

At Doncaster Coroner's Court, coroner's officer Caitlin Brookes told the hearing that Chapman climbed two fences and entered the tiger enclosure. "He was approached by the tiger and the ensuing physical contact between the tiger and Mr Chapman led to him sustaining multiple traumatic injuries which rapidly led to his death," she said.

The provisional cause of death was recorded as multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction. The hearing was adjourned to March 18, 2027. The family did not attend the opening.

The inquest gave his full name as William Harry Bruce Chapman, aged 24. Why he went into the enclosure is still unknown.

His family has questions about the care he was getting

The inquest heard that Chapman had schizophrenia and had experienced episodes of psychosis, the BBC reported. He was described as "highly functioning and independent with no care requirements". The NHS trust responsible for his care has launched an investigation.

The family's concerns went on the record at the first hearing, where the court was told they had expressed "a number of concerns" about his contact with mental health services. The specifics of what they allege were not laid out in the opening remarks.

In a statement shared by South Yorkshire Police, the family said he had struggled with serious mental illness for years and had been prescribed strong medication. In the same statement, they called him "a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved, and William loved them back."

The footage, and the president who shared it

Chapman filmed himself inside the enclosure and posted a short video to social media moments before the attack. The clip, on an Instagram account that has since been deleted or made private, showed the tiger resting on a wooden platform a few yards in front of the camera while distant voices shouted in the background.

Separate footage of the attack itself spread online. President Donald Trump shared video of the incident on Truth Social on Tuesday evening, October 13, then followed it with other clips of people being attacked by big cats and an AI-generated video of himself with a tiger.

The family condemned the circulation of the footage in a statement that did not name Trump. They called it "deeply offensive" and said it was causing them "severe distress" at an already devastating time, and asked people to stop sharing it.

Altai will not be put down

Park officials confirmed the tiger is safe and well and will not be euthanized because of what happened. Altai was secured by staff after the attack and was not injured. The park said its animal care team is continuing to prioritize his welfare.

Altai is a 190-kilogram (420-pound) male Amur tiger. Land of the Tigers is a purpose-built reserve of 8,000 square meters for endangered Amur tigers, with a raised walkway for visitors and fencing above the section where the animals roam.

Before reopening, the park said it had consulted the relevant authorities and remained in contact with South Yorkshire Police and other agencies while their inquiries continue. It asked returning visitors to be patient and respectful toward employees, and said specialist trauma support is being provided to staff affected by the death.

A child actor who later traded online

Chapman was a former pupil of the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, whose alumni include Eddie Redmayne and James Corden. In 2009 he appeared as a character named Alfie in the two-part ITV drama "May Contain Nuts," about pushy parents trying to get their children into the best school.

That cast included Shirley Henderson, who played Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films, and Darren Boyd. Chapman also played Edward Jenner in the BBC series "True Stories." His mother wrote in 2014 that he had met Hugh Jackman while working as an extra on the film "Pan."

In later years he worked as a self-employed online trader and lived in Doncaster, the town closest to the park. A neighbor described him to the BBC as a lovely man. Police described him as vulnerable.

Three investigations are now running

City of Doncaster Council opened a health and safety investigation into the death, which a spokesperson said was "in line with our statutory duties". South Yorkshire Police inquiries are continuing. The NHS trust that was responsible for Chapman's care is carrying out its own review.

Online, the decision to reopen drew mostly supportive reaction, with commenters calling it good news and at least one person saying they planned to book a visit for the following week. The turnstiles told a quieter story on Friday. Whatever answers the March hearing produces, the walkway above Land of the Tigers was open again, and there was plenty of room on it.