(Image: Family handout)
Donald Trump has shared footage of a man’s fatal tiger attack, causing further distress to the victim’s family.
William Chapman, 23, was killed after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, near Doncaster, on Saturday. His family said media coverage of the incident had caused them severe distress.
The US president reposted a video of the attack to 13 million followers on his Truth Social platform on Tuesday evening. The footage showed the tiger biting and clawing Mr Chapman as he sat inside the enclosure, but did not show his death.
Mr Trump accompanied the clip with the message: “Don’t ever mess with nature!”
On Wednesday morning, he posted an AI-generated video showing himself grappling with a tiger. The video appears to copy the original footage and includes the Tight Fit song The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
It shows Mr Trump copying a pointing gesture made by Mr Chapman before ending with him hugging the animal.
The family issued a statement on Tuesday evening, describing Mr Chapman as a “bright, warm and engaging young man”. They also criticised the reaction online and asked people to stop sharing material connected to his death.
A family statement said: “The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened.”
It added: “The publication and circulation of deeply offensive media content is causing them severe distress at an exceptionally vulnerable time. We ask people to stop doing this.”
The statement said Mr Chapman had experienced “significant mental illness over a number of years” and had been prescribed strong medication.
A family statement said: “It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death.”
It added: “We would ask everybody to respect that process.”
The family also said: “The family are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their upmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did.”
An inquest is due to open at Doncaster Coroner’s Court on Thursday morning.
Emergency services were called shortly after 1.30pm on October 10, after Mr Chapman entered the enclosure. Police said he had been visiting the park alone. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
The park remained closed on Wednesday for a fifth day after the attack.
City of Doncaster Council, which is responsible for licensing the wildlife park, launched a health and safety investigation on Monday. The council said it was working with police, health agencies and other organisations.
Dan Swaine, executive director of place at City of Doncaster Council, said: “As the relevant licensing authority for the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, I can confirm that, in line with our statutory duties, the council has launched a health and safety investigation.”
He added: “We are also working with multiple agencies, including the police and health agencies, and are supporting the Yorkshire Wildlife Park in response to the incident.”
Mr Swaine said: “At this time, we won’t be commenting further on the individual or the investigation and we ask that the privacy of those involved is respected at this difficult time.”
The park said the Amur tiger involved, named Altai, was “safe and well” and would not be euthanised. It said “many, many people” had contacted it about the animal.
Footage shared in reports appears to show Mr Chapman approaching the tiger. A short video, apparently posted on a now-deleted Instagram account, was filmed inside the enclosure.
The animal can be seen lying on a wooden platform a few metres from the camera. The person filming appears to be breathing heavily, while distant voices can be heard saying: “Oh my God” and: “Seriously.”
Mr Chapman previously attended Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire. As a child, he appeared in ITV’s May Contain Nuts with Harry Potter actress Shirley Henderson and in the BBC’s True Stories series, according to IMDb.
Jackie Palmer Stage School said it was “deeply saddened” by his death.
The school said: “We loved watching William grow, both as a person and as a performer, during his time with us.”