NRT briefing
Former child actor mauled to death by tiger had ‘significant mental illness’ and was ‘prescribed strong meds,’ family
Based on reporting by New York Post.
The Brief
The family of William Chapman, the 23-year-old former child actor mauled to death by a Siberian tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, said he suffered from a significant mental illness and had been prescribed strong medication. In a statement issued three days after his death, they said they were utterly devastated and struggling to come to terms with what happened.
They also urged authorities to determine why Chapman climbed into the tiger's enclosure, expressing hope that officials would get to the bottom of the incident. The family described Chapman as a bright, warm and engaging young man who was dearly loved.
Chapman was killed on Saturday after entering the enclosure of Altai, a 420-pound Siberian tiger. Witnesses said he was pacing, dancing with headphones in, and asked visitors to take a photo of him with the tiger. The animal dragged him into a wooded area; first responders pronounced him dead at the scene.
The park was closed for the weekend, and staff raised a black screen around the exhibit. The zoo said it was working with authorities and that safety remained its highest priority. Carole Baskin of "Tiger King" said the tiger was not doing anything wrong and expressed relief the animal was unharmed.