A man who died after entering a tiger enclosure at Yorkshire Wildlife Park may have had his medical records accessed improperly by National Health Service staff, according to the Yorkshire Ambulance Service Trust. The trust is investigating potential breaches of patient confidentiality involving two members of its staff.

William Chapman, 24, died on October 10 after climbing over two fences and entering the enclosure of a rare Amur tiger named Altai at the Doncaster attraction. Emergency services were called shortly after 1:30 p.m., but Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene. An initial post-mortem examination attributed his death to multiple traumatic injuries sustained during the encounter.

An inquest opening hearing revealed that Chapman had a diagnosis of schizophrenia and had experienced previous episodes of psychosis. His family had expressed concerns about his interaction with mental health services. At the time of his death, Chapman was living in Doncaster and worked as a self-employed online trader. He was reportedly under adult mental health services in the area and described as "highly functioning and independent with no care requirements."

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service Trust stated it had identified potential information governance issues related to the incident. The trust believes there were two instances in which two staff members accessed or attempted to access Chapman's medical information without a legitimate reason. These concerns were uncovered through proactive audits, and the trust has notified the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) as part of its formal investigation.

“We take the confidentiality and security of patient information extremely seriously and have robust systems in place to protect information,” the trust said in a statement, adding that William’s family has been informed of the ongoing investigation.

Meanwhile, the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust has also launched an investigation, although specific details about their inquiry have not been disclosed.

Following the incident, Yorkshire Wildlife Park temporarily closed the Land of the Tigers enclosure. It reopened to the public for the first time since the tragedy on October 17.

Authorities continue to review the circumstances surrounding the incident, with the coroner’s court expected to examine all aspects in further hearings.