William Chapman tragically lost his life when he entered a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park as his neighbours said he came to Doncaster for a “fresh start” and lived on his own
A couple who lived next to William Chapman said he came to Doncaster for a “fresh start”. Chapman, 24, was mauled to death by the animal at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, in Doncaster on October 10.
Kelsey Smith, 18, and Joshua Anderson, 23, moved into the same block of flats where Chapman lived in July 2026. The couple said that Chapman was a man “who didn’t have many people around him” and would “keep himself to himself”.
It was later revealed that Chapman a was a child actor who appeared on series broadcast on the BBC and ITV, but his neighbours were unaware of his past.
Kelsey also works at the bar round the corner from the flats and said that Chapman would go in once a week and order an orange juice or half a John Smith’s.
During an inquest into Chapman’s death, it was heard that he died of “multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction”.
Senior Coroner Nicola Mundy said he had a history of mental illness, a diagnosis of schizophrenia and had suffered previous bouts of psychosis.
Joshua said that he felt like Chapman came to Doncaster for a “fresh start”, and that they never saw any family visit his flat.
Josh, a warehouse worker, said: “He could have potentially misunderstood what he was doing. But now we are speculating.
“He never said why he was in Doncaster, or if he was receiving any mental health care. One time he told our bar manager not to worry about him talking to himself. It was a part of him.
“He never spoke of his past life. It was like when he came to Doncaster, he wanted a fresh start. He didn’t tell us he was an actor. He didn’t say anything about his schooling.
“He was a harmless young man who made a fatal mistake.”
Joshua said that he would often see Chapman sitting alone at a bus stop with his headphones on.
He added that Chapman would tell him that he would often go hiking.
Joshua said: “He was living alone in the apartment. He’d be sat at a bus stop or stood by the council building with his headphones on.
“He often went hiking and into the Peak District. Just enjoying himself, and I think he found peace in that, so for him to be at the zoo wasn’t out of character for him.”
Joshua said he knew Chapman well and that he was a “frequent customer” in the Ballers Club down the road.
He said in the last 12 months Chapman had developed more of a voice and would open up to people.
“I used to work in the ballers club down the road, where he will be quite a frequent customer over the past two years or so,” Joshua said.
“He would not socialise at all; he’d struggle to ask for, like, his order of a drink or whatever he wanted, which frequently was a John Smith’s or a pint of orange juice, but he would never over-drink.
“He was just quiet; he enjoyed his time on his own. He might speak to himself a little bit, and then he would go.”
The inquest also heard that Chapman was under adult mental health services in Doncaster, but was “highly functioning and independent, with no care requirements”.
Kelsey, a barmaid, said that Chapman seemed like someone who could “take care of himself” and could hold a conversation.
She said: “He would come into the pub a lot; I would speak to him and see him coming in and out of the apartment building.
“He did keep himself to himself; he was reserved and quiet – but there was another side to him. Whenever you would speak to him about something he enjoyed, like F1, his world would light up, and he would come out of his shell.
“He was really sweet. I don’t want people thinking he was a horrible, crazy person; that was not true. William was well reserved with people he didn’t know, but he could hold a conversation really well. He would talk to you without any problems.
“People are talking about how he had schizophrenia, but I have never seen that side of him. He was always well-spoken and seemed like he could take care of himself.”