On Saturday afternoon, October 10, 2026, William Chapman, believed to be in his 20s, scaled a fence and entered the enclosure of a 200 kg male Siberian tiger named Altai at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster. Witnesses reported seeing Chapman approach the tiger before the attack, which lasted only a couple of minutes. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Emergency services were called shortly after 1:30 pm.
Chapman was a former child actor known for roles in ITV's "May Contain Nuts" and the BBC's "True Stories". He appeared in the BBC series in 2012 and had acted alongside Harry Potter star Shirley Henderson in "May Contain Nuts". He attended Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. His family described him as a bright, warm and engaging young man whom they dearly loved.
The tiger involved was identified as Altai, an Amur (Siberian) tiger weighing 200 kg. A video reportedly filmed inside the enclosure shows the tiger on a platform. Park rangers fired warning shots to scare the animal away before securing it. A woman attempted to stop Chapman from entering the enclosure.
As the relevant licensing authority, City of Doncaster Council launched a health and safety investigation into the incident.
Following the incident, the park confirmed that Altai is safe and well and will not be euthanised. The park has remained closed for the fifth day following the attack. As the relevant licensing authority, City of Doncaster Council launched a health and safety investigation into the incident. Dan Swaine, speaking for the council, said the investigation is being carried out in line with statutory duties and that they are working with multiple agencies, including police and health agencies, while supporting the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in response to the incident.
#NSTnation 'Dad was supposed to meet us today', says tiger attack victim child https://t.co/BAGEKUBuPu
On October 13, 2026, Chapman’s family released a statement. They said William suffered from significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication. They described him as a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved – and William loved them back. The family expressed devastation over the loss and said they are utterly devastated and struggling to come to terms with what has happened. They requested privacy and respect for the ongoing coroner’s process, noting that it will be for the coroner to decide what part his mental illness played in his death.
Videos of the incident, including AI‑generated fakes, circulated online shortly after the attack. Police advised the public against sharing such footage. The family criticised the circulation of deeply offensive media content, saying it is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time and urging people to stop doing this.
Tiger attack victim in good spirits, says tiger owner http://t.co/JqrdQWj7XR
Former President Donald Trump reposted a silent 41‑second video of the attack on his Truth Social platform on October 13, 2026, captioning it "Don’t ever mess with nature!". He later shared a compilation of lion attacks. The family said the footage shared by Trump caused them severe distress and they hoped authorities would investigate why Chapman entered the enclosure.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park noted that many people had contacted them about Altai, the Amur tiger involved in the incident, and confirmed he is safe and well and will not be euthanised. The park remains closed while the investigation proceeds.
The health and safety investigation launched by City of Doncaster Council continues to examine the circumstances surrounding Chapman’s entry into the enclosure.
As of the latest updates, Yorkshire Wildlife Park remains closed, the tiger Altai is reported to be safe, and the family continues to mourn while asking for respect and privacy. The investigation by the council and the coroner’s inquiry are ongoing, and officials have urged the public not to share graphic footage of the attack.