William Chapman has been identified as the man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in England on October 10. Witnesses said Chapman, believed to be in his 20s, approached Altai, a rare Amur tiger weighing around 420 pounds, and reportedly pointed at the animal while telling it to “stop being naughty.” According to accounts cited by the media, visitors shouted warnings, but Chapman appeared not to understand the danger before the tiger attacked. He had reportedly filmed himself approaching the animal, and footage captured the terrifying moments as the tiger circled and lunged at him. Park staff eventually fired gas-powered acoustic guns into the air to frighten the tiger away. Altai retreated to a nearby shelter and was secured without injury, but Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene. The tragedy has left visitors shaken, particularly after details emerged about what happened shortly before the fatal encounter.

One visitor, Taylor, said Chapman approached her while she was watching the tiger from a viewing platform and asked her to take photographs of him with the animal in the background. Her boyfriend recorded a video in which Chapman appeared cheerful and asked for additional pictures. Taylor recalled that he had been alone and dancing on a bridge overlooking the enclosure. Another witness, Anthony Hunt, said he and his girlfriend noticed the tiger’s behavior change before realizing someone had entered its enclosure. The City of Doncaster Council has since launched a health and safety investigation and is working with police and other agencies. Yorkshire Wildlife Park expressed heartfelt sympathy for Chapman’s family and confirmed that Altai would not be euthanized. Investigators will examine the circumstances surrounding the incident as the community continues to process the tragic loss.