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William Harry Bruce Chapman, 24, from Doncaster, died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park in Doncaster at around 1.30pm on October 10.
Coroner 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 resulted in him sustaining multiple traumatic injuries which quickly led to his death.”
Mr Chapman, a self-employed online retailer, was described as “high 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 Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust confirming they have launched an internal investigation into his death.
An initial post-mortem examination found that Mr Chapman died of multiple traumatic injuries and was identified by his stepfather at the mortuary on Tuesday (October 13).
Ms Mundy – senior coroner for the region – said Mr Chapman’s family had “found things incredibly difficult” and had decided not to attend the hearing but would be updated by her staff afterwards.
Doncaster City Council, which licenses the 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 euthanized.
