Young actor William Chapman dies after entering tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park

William Chapman, a former child actor in his mid‑sizes, died after he entered the enclosure of the Amur tiger Altai at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on Saturday afternoon.

What Happened

Police say Chapman walked into the tiger area shortly after 13:30 BST. An eyewitness noted he wore headphones and was pacing near the barrier before climbing down from a walkway, scaling the rail and crawling onto the grass in front of the tiger. Mobile‑phone video believed to be his shows the tiger perched on a wooden platform as he approaches. The tiger attacked and Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Reactions

South Yorkshire Police confirmed the family had been notified and were receiving specialist support. Yorkshire Wildlife Park evacuated the site, closed the park and kept Altai in the enclosure, stating it would not be euthanised. The Born Free Foundation demanded an urgent review of how a person could gain access to the enclosure. Dr Campbell Murn, former government zoo‑expert committee member, compared the breach to a determined thief bypassing security. Ella Ford, a 24‑year‑old visitor, filmed the moments before the attack and described Chapman 'pacing around with his headphones' before he jumped in.

Context

The incident highlights ongoing concerns about zoo safety and the difficulty of preventing determined individuals from entering animal habitats, even when modern barriers are in place. Doncaster Council has launched a health‑and‑safety probe in line with its statutory duties.