The troubled former child actor mauled to death by a tiger at a British wildlife park had scaled two fences to jump into the predator’s enclosure before suffering “multiple traumatic injuries”, coroners said Thursday.
William Chapman, 24, had been diagnosed with “schizophrenia” and suffered “previous bouts of psychosis” before he was mauled to death in front of other visitors on Saturday at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in northern England.
“(Chapman) climbed two fences and entered the tiger enclosure,” the coroner told a hearing into his shocking death caught on camera, according to Yorkshire Live.
“He approached the tiger and following an interaction, he suffered multiple traumatic injuries.”
The tentative cause of death is multiple traumatic injuries and interaction with animals.
Chapman, a trader, was pronounced dead at the scene, while 5-year-old Siberian tiger Altai was arrested by wildlife park staff.
His family chose not to attend the opening of his inquest at Doncaster Coroners Court – which has now been adjourned until March 18 next year.
But they told coroners in advance that Chapman “had a history of mental illness, a diagnosis of schizophrenia” and had been supported by mental health services.
“His family expressed a number of concerns about his contact with mental health services which led to his death,” the coroner said.
Those close to him remember Chapman as “a bright, warm and engaging young man who was loved dearly by his family – and William loved them in return”.
It is unclear why Chapman entered the compound. He recorded video from inside the predator’s enclosure before he was mauled to death.
He was seen “pacing around with his headphones on” and “dancing happily” before asking other zoo visitors to take a photo of him with the tiger in the background, according to witnesses.
Chapman allegedly told Altai to “stop being mean” before lunging at him, dragging him into a wooded part of the compound and killing him.
Park officials confirmed the tiger would not be euthanized in light of the tragedy.
Chapman previously appeared in a 2009 two-part miniseries on British television called “May Contain Nuts.”
Harry Potter actress Shirley Henderson – aka Moaning Myrtle – was among the stars of the series.
Chapman also attended the Jackie Palmer Stage School, which counts several stars, including Eddie Redmayne and James Corden, among its alumni.
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