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Chilling new information explains why man pointed finger at tiger as victim is identified
Haunting new details have revealed why a man who was mauled by a tiger pointed at the wild animal before the fatal attack.
On Saturday (October 10), a man identified as William Chapman jumped an enclosure housing the rare Amur tiger, Altai, at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
According to witnesses, the man, believed to be in his 20s, reportedly pointed at the tiger and told it to "stop being naughty," per The Mirror.
Onlookers also reportedly shouted at Chapman to play dead, but he appeared to not understand their warnings before the tiger launched its fatal attack.
Zoo keepers eventually intervened by firing gas-powered acoustic guns into the air to frighten the beast. It retreated to a nearby shelter and was quickly secured, and was unharmed.
But tragically, the victim was declared dead at the scene.
The man filmed himself approaching the tiger
Chapman recorded himself approaching the 420-pound animal while shocked visitors watched from above shortly before the ordeal.
Footage showed him walking toward Altai, appearing out of breath, before he was pinned down by the animal.
Separate video captured by witnesses also showed Chapman shouting "no, no, no," and "stop, stop, stop, stop, stop" as Altai circled and lunged at him.
Witness reveals she took the final photo of Chapman
A parkgoer has since revealed that she had unknowingly taken what may have been some of the man's final pictures.
Taylor, who was with her boyfriend, said she was approached by Chapman while watching Altai from a viewing platform.
He reportedly asked: "Can you grab a shot of myself with the tiger?" so she took his phone, and he posed with the tiger in the background.
A video taken by her boyfriend showed the man laughing and enthusiastically requesting more pictures: "One more, one more, one more."
"He was completely alone," Taylor told the outlet. "At first, he was dancing on the bridge overlooking the enclosure. He ended up standing next to me."
Another visitor, Anthony Hunt, who was with his girlfriend Scarlet when the horror unfolded, told Sky News: "We noticed the tiger’s behavior change. Its eyes locked onto something in the enclosure.
"We thought maybe he's getting fed. When Scarlett was taking photos, we suddenly saw in the camera lens that a guy had entered the enclosure," he added.
One witness spoke about seeing the man enjoying himself shortly before his death.
"20 minutes before today’s tragic incident at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, this tiger was sat in the sunshine," they said. "The man who I saw on the bridge with his EarPods in dancing was happily enjoying seeing the tiger."
City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety investigation into the death.
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.
"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."
Yorkshire Wildlife Park said their "thoughts and heartfelt sympathies" were with the man's family and confirmed the tiger remained in the enclosure and would not be euthanized.