Two NHS staff members in England are under investigation over suspected unauthorised access to medical information relating to William Chapman, the 24-year-old man killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park, raising fresh concerns about the protection of confidential patient records.
Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust said it had identified two separate incidents involving staff members who allegedly accessed or attempted to access information about Chapman following his death at the wildlife park near Doncaster on October 10.
According to reports by the BBC and other British media, the trust said its internal audits uncovered the potential breaches, prompting an investigation into the circumstances and actions of the staff involved.
The matter has also been reported to the Information Commissioner’s Office, the UK body responsible for overseeing data protection.
Chapman’s family has been informed of the investigation, although the trust has not established publicly whether the suspected breaches resulted in information being disclosed to other people.
The development comes as the circumstances surrounding Chapman’s death are being examined by a coroner and other authorities.
An inquest at Doncaster Coroner’s Court heard that Chapman died from multiple traumatic injuries after entering the tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Senior coroner Nicola Mundy was told that the 24-year-old had a history of mental illness, a diagnosis of schizophrenia and previous episodes of psychosis.
The hearing also revealed that his family had raised concerns about his contact with Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust, which provides mental health services. The trust has launched a separate investigation into its involvement in his care.
Chapman, a self-employed online trader who lived independently in Doncaster, was described at the inquest as highly functioning and having no care requirements.
His death has consequently prompted separate questions about the handling of his medical information after the incident and the mental health support he received before it.
Meanwhile, Yorkshire Wildlife Park reopened on Friday, October 16, six days after the fatal attack. The attraction confirmed that its Land of the Tigers section would also welcome visitors.
The park said the safety and wellbeing of visitors, employees and animals remained its priority and confirmed that Altai, the Amur tiger involved in the incident, was safe and would not be euthanised.
It added that it was cooperating with South Yorkshire Police and other relevant agencies investigating the circumstances of the death, while affected staff were receiving specialist trauma support.
City of Doncaster Council has also launched a health and safety investigation into the incident.
The inquest was adjourned until March 18, 2027, as authorities continue examining the circumstances surrounding Chapman’s death.
The investigations into the potential medical-record breaches and Chapman’s mental health care remain separate from the inquiry into the fatal encounter with the tiger.
