(Photo by Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA via AP)
British media have revealed the name of the man who climbed into a tiger enclosure and was mauled to death by the giant cat. He was identified as a former actor in his 20s, while officials confirmed they will not euthanize the tiger responsible.
Foreign news agencies reported on 13 Oct 2026 that UK authorities disclosed the man who climbed into the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster, and was mauled to death, was William Chapman, approximately 20 years old, a former young actor with several television series and drama credits.
The incident occurred on the afternoon of Saturday, 10 Oct. Chapman came to the zoo alone. Witnesses said they saw him wearing headphones, pacing along the animal viewing path before climbing over the barrier and jumping into the tiger enclosure.
Chapman then crouched and slid forward toward an Amur tiger named “Altai” resting on a wooden platform. The tiger immediately attacked him. Although bystanders tried to distract the tiger by shouting and banging on the fence, it was unsuccessful, and Chapman died at the scene.
It was revealed that a video clip taken just before the incident was posted on a social media account believed to be his own, showing the moment he approached the tiger amid people shouting warnings in alarm. The account was later deleted.
After the incident, zoo officials evacuated visitors and temporarily closed the park to investigate, working with Doncaster City Council which began reviewing health and safety procedures.
The zoo expressed deepest condolences to the deceased’s family and confirmed that Altai will not be euthanized, as the behavior resulted from someone trespassing into its territory.
Meanwhile, the Born Free Foundation has called for an urgent review of safety standards to understand how outsiders could enter the tiger enclosure and what transpired afterward.
However, Dr. Campbell Murn, a University of Reading lecturer and former member of the UK government’s zoo expert committee, stated that if someone is determined to trespass, it is akin to a burglar trying to break into a house or steal a car, making it very difficult to prevent even with the best security systems.
Chapman’s acting credits include ITV’s drama May Contain Nuts and the role of Edward Jenner in BBC’s True Stories series.
Follow international news:https://www.thairath.co.th/news/foreign
Source:bbc