Overview
- A visitor, William Chapman, climbed over two fences and entered the Land of the Tigers enclosure on Saturday 10 October and was fatally attacked by an Amur tiger, a post-mortem reported multiple traumatic injuries as the cause of death.
- The inquest opening in Doncaster heard Chapman had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and prior psychosis and that his family have raised concerns about his recent contact with local mental health services.
- South Yorkshire Police and Doncaster City Council have launched inquiries into the circumstances and health-and-safety arrangements, and a full coroner’s inquest is scheduled for 18 March 2027.
- The Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust has commissioned a patient safety investigation into Chapman’s care, while Yorkshire Ambulance Service is probing alleged inappropriate access or attempted access to his records and has reported the matter to the ICO.
- Yorkshire Wildlife Park reopened to visitors on Friday 16 October after discussions with authorities, confirmed the tiger Altai is unharmed and will not be euthanised, and said trauma support is being offered to staff, visitors and the victim’s family.