An inquest has found the initial cause of death of the man killed in a tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
William Chapman was fatally injured by tiger Altai after entering its enclosure at the family attraction on Saturday in front of other visitors.
An inquest opening into his death at Doncaster Coroner’s Court today heard he had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and had a history of mental illness.
His provisional cause of death was ‘multiple traumatic injuries’ after he came into physical contact with the tiger, the coroner said.
His family revealed yesterday he suffered from ‘significant mental illness over a number of years’ and was ‘prescribed strong medication,’ adding that it will be for the coroner to decide ‘what part this played in his death.’
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William is said to have suffered bouts of psychosis and was under adult mental health services in Doncaster.
His family raised concerns about this contact with mental health services before his death, according to coroner’s officer Caitlin Brookes.
She said the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust had launched an investigation following the death.
Despite his struggles, he was ‘highly functioning and independent with no care requirements,’ the coroner said.
The full inquest is scheduled for March 18 next year.
William, a former child actor, filmed his final moments as he approached the pen, with the 400lbs cat sitting on its platform before it pounced.
His family hit out at the ‘deeply offensive’ sharing of video relating to his death just before US president Donald Trump reposted a widely circulated video of the incident, which Metro has deemed too graphic to publish.
They also described the young man as ‘bright, warm and engaging.’
He was living in Doncaster at the time of his death and working as self-employed online trader.
A statement said said: ‘The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened.
‘The publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time. We ask people to stop doing this.
‘The family are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their utmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did.’
William, who had attended Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, had appeared on multiple TV series as a schoolboy, according to IMDB.
It shows he appeared in ITV’s May Contain Nuts alongside Harry Potter star Shirley Henderson (Moaning Myrtle), and in BBC’s True Stories program.
Emergency services were called to the Doncaster park shortly after 1.30pm on Saturday.
The 23-year-old, who had been visiting the park alone, was pronounced dead at the scene.
Park rangers shot into the air to usher Altai away.
The wildlife park, which remains closed, has since confirmed that the tiger is ‘safe and well’ and will not be euthanised.
Doncaster City Council confirmed it has started a health and safety investigation as the licensing authority for the park attraction.
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