RismadarVoice Reporters
October 14, 2026
The family of William Chapman, a 23-year-old man who died following a tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England, has condemned the circulation of footage of the incident, including videos shared by United States President Donald Trump.
The family said the continued sharing of the footage had intensified their distress as they mourned their son and awaited the outcome of investigations into his death.
Chapman died on Saturday, October 10, after entering a tiger enclosure at the wildlife park in Doncaster, South Yorkshire.
Trump subsequently shared footage of the incident on his Truth Social account, accompanied by a comment warning against interfering with nature.
He later posted an artificial intelligence-generated video depicting himself interacting with a tiger in a scene resembling elements of the original footage.
The posts attracted criticism from South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, who said Chapman’s family had contacted his office to express their anguish over the videos.
Coppard described the use of artificial intelligence to recreate aspects of the tragedy as insensitive and appealed to members of the public to stop circulating the footage.
He stressed that the incident involved the loss of a young man’s life and should not be treated as entertainment.
The British Prime Minister’s office also acknowledged the family’s concerns, saying their request for privacy and sensitivity should be respected.
In an earlier statement, Chapman’s relatives remembered him as a warm, engaging and much-loved young man.
They disclosed that he had experienced mental health difficulties and had received medical treatment, but emphasised that the coroner would determine whether any health-related factors contributed to the circumstances of his death.
The family also called for a thorough investigation and requested privacy while grieving.
Police said Chapman had visited the wildlife park alone before the incident. Emergency services were called shortly after 1:30 p.m., but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
An inquest is scheduled to open at Doncaster Coroner’s Court on Thursday, October 15.
The City of Doncaster Council has also commenced a health and safety investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Yorkshire Wildlife Park remained closed on Wednesday following the tragedy.
The park confirmed that Altai, the Amur tiger involved in the incident, was safe and would not be euthanised.
Chapman had attended Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, and appeared in television productions during his childhood.
The school paid tribute to him, expressing sadness over his death and recalling his development as a young performer.
The circumstances surrounding his entry into the enclosure remain subject to official investigation.
