Man died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park; safety investigation is underway

Authorities are investigating how a 23-year-old man entered a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park and was killed on Saturday. The man has been identified as William Chapman. His family has paid tribute to him, describing him as a bright, warm and engaging person, and has asked for privacy while they cope with their loss.

According to South Yorkshire Police, Chapman entered the enclosure shortly after 13:30 BST. Witnesses reported seeing him near the enclosure before he climbed over the barriers and went inside. Emergency services attended, but he died at the scene. The park was evacuated and remains closed, with no reopening date announced.

The City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety investigation, working with police and other agencies. The investigation should help establish how Chapman gained access to the enclosure and whether any safety measures need to be reviewed. An inquest is due to open at Doncaster Coroner's Court on Thursday.

Chapman's family said he had experienced significant mental health difficulties over several years and had been prescribed strong medication. They stressed that it is for the coroner to determine whether this played any part in his death. It would be premature to draw conclusions before the investigation is complete.

The tiger, an Amur tiger named Altai, remains in its enclosure and the park has confirmed it will not be euthanised. Animal behaviour experts note that tigers are powerful predators and that entering their enclosure carries an extreme risk. The incident is tragic, but it does not by itself establish that visitors are generally unsafe at wildlife parks. The key unanswered question is how the enclosure was accessed and what the investigation finds.