THE family of a man who was killed by a tiger whilst visiting a Yorkshire wildlife park had reportedly expressed concerns about his mental health in the period leading up to his death.
William Harry Bruce Chapman, 24, from Doncaster, died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster around 1.30pm on October 10.
Coroner’s officer Caitlin Brookes told Doncaster Coroner’s Court that Mr Chapman’s family had raised "a number of concerns" about his interactions with mental health services before his death.
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He had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and experienced previous episodes of psychosis.
She said: "He was approached by the tiger and the ensuing physical contact between the tiger and Mr Chapman led to him sustaining multiple traumatic injuries which rapidly led to his death."
Mr Chapman, a self-employed online trader, was described as "highly functioning and independent with no care requirements" despite his mental health history.
He was receiving support from adult mental health services in Doncaster at the time of the incident - with the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust confirming they have launched an internal investigation following his death.
An initial post-mortem examination found that Mr Chapman died from multiple traumatic injuries and was identified by his stepfather at the mortuary on Tuesday (October 13).
Ms Mundy - senior coroner for the area - said Mr Chapman’s family "were finding things incredibly difficult" and had decided not to attend the hearing, but would be updated afterwards by her staff.
City of Doncaster Council, which licenses Yorkshire Wildlife Park, is conducting a health and safety investigation and has said it will share its findings with the coroner.
A full inquest hearing is scheduled for March 18 next year.
The wildlife park confirmed that the tiger involved in the incident, Altai, an Amur tiger, will not be euthanised.