An inquest into the death of a 24-year-old man who was fatally mauled by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park has opened today.

William Chapman died on Saturday, October 10, after entering the enclosure of an Amur tiger named Altai, at a zoo near Doncaster.

The opening of his inquest at Doncaster Coroner’s Court heard the 24-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene and died of “multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction”.

Senior coroner Nicola Mundy said he had a history of mental illness, a diagnosis of schizophrenia and had suffered previous bouts of psychosis. His family had raised concerns about his contact with Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Trust, the hearing was told.

In a statement his family said he suffered significant mental illness for several years.

They said: “It will be for the coroner to decide what part this played in his death.”

They described Chapman as a “bright, warm and engaging young man” and said they were devastated by his death.

Emergency services were called shortly after 1.30pm on October 10, and Chapman was pronounced dead at the scene, according to reports.

Witnesses said they saw him approach the tiger before entering the enclosure. Police said he was believed to have been visiting the park alone.

Chapman was a former child actor who appeared in ITV’s May Contain Nuts, alongside actress Shirley Henderson, and the BBC’s True Stories series, according to reports.

His former stage school, Jackie Palmer Stage School in High Wycombe, paid tribute to him, saying it was deeply saddened by his death and would remember him with great fondness.

The family have also appealed for people to stop sharing footage of the fatal incident online, saying the circulation of deeply offensive content was causing them severe distress.

They urged the public to respect their privacy while the circumstances surrounding his death are investigated.

The City of Doncaster Council has launched a health and safety investigation into the incident, while Yorkshire Wildlife Park has said the tiger is safe and will not be euthanised.

The inquest is expected to examine the circumstances of Chapman’s death, including any relevant evidence about his mental health.