A woman from Moreton, Wirral, has described the devastating moments she witnessed before William Chapman was fatally attacked by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, saying the incident continues to haunt her days later.

Ella Ford, 24, was visiting the wildlife park near Doncaster with her boyfriend on Saturday, October 10, when she saw Chapman enter the tiger enclosure. What began as an ordinary visit quickly turned into a terrifying scene as visitors realised what was happening and desperately tried to respond.

“I just can’t stop thinking about it,” Ella said, describing the experience as heartbreaking.

Woman Notices Man Pacing Above the Tiger Enclosure

Ella told the Liverpool Echo that she first noticed Chapman because he was repeatedly walking around an elevated walkway overlooking the tigers.

She recalled that he was wearing headphones and appeared happy. At the time, nothing about his behaviour immediately suggested that something was wrong.

“I only noticed him because he was pacing around. Other than that, I wouldn’t have noticed anything out of the ordinary,” she said.

After looking around and seeing no one accompanying him, Ella assumed he might have been waiting for members of his family who were elsewhere on the walkway.

She and her boyfriend then moved farther along the path to look at another tiger. It was during this time that they noticed Chapman climbing over a wooden barrier.

Ella said he remained there for approximately a minute, leading her initially to believe he simply wanted a closer look at the animals.

“My first thought was that he was trying to get a closer look at the tiger. I never thought he would try and go in,” she recalled.

Concerned by what she was seeing, she tapped her boyfriend and asked what was happening.

Witness Describes Terrifying Moments as Tiger Attacked

According to Ella, Chapman subsequently climbed into the tiger habitat and crawled towards an animal resting nearby.

Her boyfriend saw Chapman take out his phone and move closer to the tiger. Within moments, the situation escalated into a fatal attack.

Visitors began scrambling to get help as the scene unfolded. Ella recalled one man attempting to scare the tiger away by banging on the fence, but the animal did not appear to respond.

The events happened so quickly that Ella struggled to remember every detail clearly.

“It’s all a bit of a blur. I tried to look away but I couldn’t. I just remember hearing people say ‘Oh my God,’” she said.

She also remembered the growing alarm among families who were watching the incident, with parents trying to move their children away from the enclosure.

“Everyone was trying to get their kids away because they knew what was about to happen,” Ella explained.

Park staff began clearing the walkway within minutes, she said, before the evacuation was extended across the wider wildlife park.

Although the immediate danger eventually passed, the experience has continued to affect her.

“It’s heartbreaking,” Ella said. “I just can’t stop thinking about it.”

William Chapman Pronounced Dead at the Scene

Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene following the attack, which occurred at approximately 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 10.

The incident prompted the wildlife park to evacuate visitors as the circumstances surrounding the fatal encounter were addressed.

Chapman’s death has since drawn widespread attention, including renewed discussion about the events leading up to his entry into the enclosure.

His family has also spoken publicly about their devastating loss, asking for answers about why their son entered the tiger habitat.

Family Opens Up About His Mental Health Struggles

In a statement released on Tuesday, Chapman’s relatives described him as a “bright, warm and engaging young man” and said they were struggling to come to terms with his death.

The family disclosed that he had experienced significant mental health difficulties over several years and had been prescribed strong medication.

However, they stressed that the question of whether his mental health contributed to the circumstances of his death would be for the coroner to determine.

“The family are utterly devastated by their loss and are struggling to come to terms with what has happened,” their statement said.

They also expressed hope that the relevant authorities would investigate the circumstances thoroughly and establish why Chapman had entered the enclosure.

“The family are hopeful that the relevant authorities will do their utmost to get to the bottom of why our amazing son did what he did,” they added.

For Ella, the tragedy remains difficult to process. Her account offers a glimpse into the confusion and distress experienced by visitors who witnessed the incident firsthand, as Chapman’s family continues to grieve and seek answers.

Source: Compiled from various sources