William Chapman identified as man killed in tiger attack

Selfie of a man holding up his phone.

The BBC understands the man attacked by a tiger after entering its enclosure on Saturday afternoon is William Chapman.

The man entered the enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster shortly after 13:30 BST on Saturday and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to South Yorkshire Police.

An eyewitness described seeing the man wearing headphones and "pacing around" near the enclosure before he went in and was attacked. Police confirmed he was visiting the park on his own.

A force spokesperson said his family was aware and was being supported by specialist officers. The wildlife park was evacuated after the incident and remains closed as investigations into the death continue.

City of Doncaster Council has also launched a health and safety investigation into the death, which a spokesperson said was "in line with our statutory duties".

Yorkshire Wildlife Park said their "thoughts and heartfelt sympathies" were with the man's family and confirmed the rare Amur tiger, called Altai, remained in the enclosure and would not be euthanised.

Dr Campbell Murn, a previous member of the government's zoo expert committee and lecturer at the University of Reading, said while it was a tragic incident, determined people could get inside zoo enclosures.

"I view it in the same way a determined thief will get into somebody's house or somebody's car and despite the best security systems and enclosures sometimes these things happen," he said.

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Original source William Chapman identified as man killed in tiger attack

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