Yorkshire Ambulance Service Investigates Tiger Victim Records Breach

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust has opened an investigation after identifying two possible incidents of staff accessing or attempting to access medical and incident information tied to the death of William Chapman, 24, who was killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster on Saturday, the BBC reports.

The trust said the potential breaches involved two members of staff and were flagged through its own proactive audits, not through an outside complaint.

What Did Yorkshire Ambulance Service Say About the Breach?

A spokesperson for the trust said: "We believe there may have been two instances involving two members of staff accessing or attempting to access incident/medical information following this incident without a legitimate reason to do so." The trust added that it has "robust systems in place to protect information" and that Chapman's family has been told of the concern and offered condolences.

Has the Information Commissioner's Office Been Notified?

The trust said it has reported the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office and will keep Chapman's family updated as the internal investigation into "the full circumstances surrounding these potential breaches" moves forward, according to the BBC.

How Did William Chapman Die?

An inquest at Doncaster Coroner's Court heard Thursday that Chapman died of "multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction" after climbing over two fences and entering a tiger enclosure at the park at about 13:30 BST on Saturday. Park staff secured the animal and paramedics who responded confirmed his death at the scene, the inquest was told, per the BBC.

Senior coroner Nicola Mundy said Chapman had a history of mental illness, including a schizophrenia diagnosis and previous episodes of psychosis. He was under adult mental health services in Doncaster but was described in the inquest as "highly functioning and independent with no care requirements." Chapman, a self-employed online trader born in Chichester, West Sussex, lived in Doncaster at the time of his death.

Has the Wildlife Park Reopened?

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has reopened to visitors, the BBC reports. The park has not issued further public comment referenced in the available reporting beyond confirming the tiger was secured following the attack.

By the Numbers

• 2 staff members at Yorkshire Ambulance Service are under review for potentially accessing records without a legitimate reason.
• 24 was Chapman's age at the time of his death.

What Happens Next in the Investigation?

The trust has not set a timeline for completing its internal review. It has committed to updating Chapman's family as the inquiry proceeds and has already escalated the matter to the Information Commissioner's Office, the UK's independent regulator for data protection. The coroner's inquest into Chapman's death, which began Thursday, addressed the circumstances of the attack itself rather than the records matter, which the ambulance trust disclosed separately.

No additional details on the identities of the staff involved, the specific records accessed, or disciplinary outcomes have been made public as of this report.