The family of William Chapman, the 23-year-old man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, has paid tribute to him as a “bright, warm and engaging young man” who was deeply loved by his family.

Chapman was killed by a tiger at the wildlife park in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, on Saturday afternoon. Emergency services were called shortly after 1:30 p.m. after he entered the animal’s enclosure while visiting the park alone, according to police.

Park rangers fired warning shots in an attempt to scare the Siberian tiger away. The animal eventually retreated to a nearby shelter and was secured. Despite the efforts of emergency medical teams, Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene.

William (left) sitting next to Harry Potter star Shirley Henderson, who played Moaning Myrtle, in the ITV show May Contain Nuts

Family Speaks Out After Tragic Death

In a statement released on Tuesday evening, Chapman’s family revealed that he had struggled with significant mental illness for several years and had been prescribed strong medication.

“Sadly, William suffered from significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication,” the family said. They added that it would be up to the coroner to determine whether his medication played a role in his death.

The family also expressed concern about offensive media content being published and shared following the tragedy, saying it was causing them severe distress during an already painful time. They urged the public to stop circulating such material and asked people to respect the ongoing process.

“The family are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their utmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did,” the statement added.

An inquest into Chapman’s death is due to open at Doncaster Coroner’s Court.

Video Shows Moments Before the Attack

Reports indicate that Chapman took photographs with the tiger visible in the background shortly before approaching the animal. A video apparently shared through a now-deleted Instagram account showed the tiger resting on a wooden platform inside its enclosure.

According to reports, Chapman jumped from a viewing platform and approached the five-year-old tiger, named Altai. Witnesses described him behaving erratically earlier in the day, while footage appeared to show him sitting on the grass close to the animal.

Other visitors reportedly tried to distract the tiger as the situation escalated. The animal eventually attacked Chapman, dragging him away while people nearby shouted in alarm.

The incident took place in front of other park visitors, including families with children. The footage and reports surrounding the attack have since drawn widespread attention, prompting Chapman’s family to ask the public to treat the situation with sensitivity.

William Chapman Was a Former Child Actor

Beyond the tragic circumstances of his death, Chapman was also remembered for his earlier work as a child actor.

In 2009, he appeared in the ITV comedy drama May Contain Nuts, playing Alfie Chaplin, the younger son of characters portrayed by Shirley Henderson and Darren Boyd. Henderson is widely known for playing Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films.

Chapman later portrayed a young Edward Jenner, the pioneer of the smallpox vaccine, in the BBC educational series True Stories in 2012.

He also attended the Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, a performing arts school whose former students include Eddie Redmayne, James Corden and Aaron Taylor-Johnson.

The school shared a tribute on Facebook after learning of his death, saying it was “deeply saddened” by the loss of its former student.

“We loved watching William grow, both as a person and as a performer, during his time with us,” the school said. It also sent its condolences to his family and friends, adding that he would be remembered with great fondness and would always hold a special place in the school’s heart.

Investigation Underway as Park Remains Closed

Yorkshire Wildlife Park remained closed on Wednesday, marking the fifth day since the fatal incident.

The City of Doncaster Council, which is responsible for licensing the park, confirmed on Monday that it had launched a health and safety investigation into the circumstances surrounding Chapman’s death.

As his family mourns the loss of their son, they have asked for privacy and respect while authorities work to establish what happened and the circumstances that led to the tragedy.