Family Shares Heartbreaking New Details as Man Mauled to Death in Tiger Attack

The family of a former child actor who was killed in a tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park have paid tribute to their “bright, warm and engaging” son, revealing he had suffered from significant mental illness for several years. William Chapman, 23, died after entering a tiger enclosure at the wildlife park in Doncaster on Saturday. In a statement released on Tuesday, his family said they were “utterly devastated” by his death and struggling to come to terms with what had happened. "William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved – and William loved them back," they said. They added that Mr Chapman had suffered from “significant mental illness over a number of years” and had consequently been prescribed strong medication. “It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death,” the statement continued, with the family asking the public to respect that process.