William Chapman: Tiger attack victim was former child actor who appeared on BBC and ITV

William Chapman: Tiger attack victim was former child actor who appeared on BBC and ITV William Chapman, the man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, was a former child actor who appeared on the BBC and ITV, it has emerged The man who was fatally mauled after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park has been identified as a former child actor, it has emerged. William Chapman died on Saturday afternoon after entering the pen, where he was attacked by a 200kg (31 stone) Amur tiger as onlookers made desperate attempts to distract the animal in a bid to save him. Emergency services were alerted shortly after 1.30pm but Chapman, who police said was visiting the park by himself, was declared dead at the scene. It has now come to light that the victim was a former child actor who featured in programmes on BBC and ITV. Chapman appeared in the ITV drama May Contain Nuts alongside Shirley Henderson, best known for her role as Moaning Myrtle in the Harry Potter films, according to the BBC and confirmed by IMDB. He also played Edward Jenner as a young boy in the BBC series True Stories. Chapman, who is believed to be in his 20s, is said to have recorded the moment he approached the animal, according to footage shared on an Instagram account that has since been removed. The brief clip was shot from inside the tiger's enclosure and captured the large cat resting on top of a wooden platform, a few metres away from the camera. In the audio, the person filming can be heard breathing heavily while distant voices shout "Oh my God" and "seriously". The park was evacuated and closed following the incident, and will stay closed on Wednesday, October 14, for the fifth consecutive day, reports the Daily Star. Footage that began circulating online appeared to show Chapman being grabbed and wrestled by Altai inside the tiger enclosure at the park. A separate clip seemingly captured the voice of Chapman requesting that people photograph him alongside the tiger just minutes before the horror unfolded. Visitors told how they noticed Mr Chapman on the viewing platform above the enclosure "dancing happily with his [headphones] in" as he watched the tigers with a group of roughly 15 to 20 people. "He obviously wasn't with anyone and he asked a total stranger to take a picture of him with the tiger in the background," one visitor said. "Probably the last photo on his phone." Others told how a mum had desperately tried to stop Mr Chapman from climbing into enclosure, but "wasn't strong enough". University graduate Anthony Hunt, 22, who was at the park with his partner Scarlet Hogan, 21, a pharmacy worker, said the victim appeared to be "praying and bowing down to the tiger" before the mauling. Hogan said the man "started to fight back and screamed," adding: "It was like he was just detached from reality." "The last thing we saw was the tiger was on his neck," he said. In an earlier statement posted on social media, the wildlife park revealed that "many, many people" had reached out regarding Altai, the Amur tiger at the centre of the incident, confirming he is "safe and well" and will not be put down. The park also stated that members of its staff were "deeply affected" by the incident and are currently receiving specialist support. South Yorkshire Police said officers received reports of a man entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park at 1:35pm on Saturday, October 10. "The tiger subsequently attacked the man, resulting in serious injury," the force added. "Emergency services attended and sadly, despite the best efforts of medical personnel, the man was pronounced dead at the scene. "The man's family is aware and is being supported by specialist officers. Our thoughts are with them at this distressing time."