WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: William Chapman was identified as the young man who tragically lost his life after he entered a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on Saturday
The young man who was tragically killed after entering a tiger enclosure at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster shared several photos of his day before his heartbreaking death. William Chapman, a former child actor, was named as the victim yesterday (October 13).
The family of Chapman have described the 23-year-old as a “bright, warm and engaging young man”. He was mauled to death when he entered the tiger enclosure and pronounced dead at the scene on Saturday (October 10).
Chapman’s family said in a statement that the young man had suffered from “significant mental illness over a number of years.“
On a now-deleted Instagram account, Chapman posted a video to the account as he appeared to approach the tiger after entering the enclosure.
The short clip showed the large tiger, Altai, lying on top of a wooden platform, a few metres in front of the camera. In the audio, the person filming can be heard breathing heavily as distant voices shout: “Oh my God” and: “Seriously.”
But the account, reportedly owned by Chapman, was heavily active the day before the tragic incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Images of his day before visiting the popular UK Zoo, showed Chapman clearly document that he was in Doncaster, where the park is also located.
Chapman appeared to show off buying an alcoholic beverage, a Jack Daniel’s mixed with Coca-Cola Zero, according to the Daily Mail.
Other images showed a property the former child actor was staying, which he tagged as Doncaster. He also posted a random collection of images including a soldier figurine and what is believed to be a Greek war helmet.
Further images appeared to show more of the property he was living in, including the living room. The account also showed photos of Chapman visiting the swimming pool and the gym
The account suggests Chapman later spent time at a swimming pool and the gym. It is alleged by the Daily Mail that a photo of Chapman posing in the gym, he is wearing the same clothes that he wore to the wildlife park the next day.
The last photograph, believed to be taken that day, showed Chapman pose on a kitchen worktop with a with a copy of the Bible and a crossbow.
Chapman was an actor as a youngster, who his mum said was “passionate about acting”. Heappeared in ITV’s May Contain Nuts, alongside Harry Potter actress Shirley Henderson, and in the BBC’s True Stories series, according to IMDB.
He previously attended Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire.
In a statement released yesterday, his family 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 upmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did.”
The family added: “William was a bright, warm and engaging young man whom his family dearly loved – and William loved them back.
“Sadly, William suffered from significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication.
“It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death. We would ask everybody to respect that process.”