A woman who took what may have been one of the last photographs of a man killed by a tiger at Yorkshire Wildlife Park has spoken out, revealing the heartbreaking interaction they shared just moments before the tragedy.

Del Taylor was visiting the wildlife park near Doncaster with her boyfriend on Saturday, October 10, when she was approached by a young man who asked her to take a photograph of him with a tiger in the background.

The man, later identified in reports as 24-year-old William Chapman, appeared happy as he posed near the enclosure housing Altai, an Amur tiger. Taylor took several photographs, positioning him so the animal could be seen behind him. She could not have known how devastating the situation would become just moments later.

‘He Was So Happy’

In an emotional social media update, Taylor described the brief encounter and addressed the speculation that has circulated online since the fatal attack.

She recalled how Chapman had been dancing on a bridge overlooking the enclosure before standing beside her and asking for a picture. Her boyfriend was recording the tiger at the time, and their interaction was reportedly captured in the background of the video.

Taylor said it was deeply upsetting to think that the photograph she had taken might have been one of the last images of him alive.

She also urged people to consider the circumstances more compassionately rather than making assumptions about his actions. Her message was a reminder that the public did not know everything about what he might have been experiencing in the moments before the tragedy.

Fatal Attack Witnessed by Visitors

The incident occurred when Chapman entered the tiger enclosure and was attacked by Altai. Witnesses reported hearing him shouting as the animal grabbed him, while other visitors desperately tried to respond to the unfolding emergency.

Emergency services attended the scene, but Chapman suffered fatal injuries and was pronounced dead. The park was evacuated as authorities began investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.

A Plea for Compassion

Taylor has since said she intends to step back from social media while the intense public attention surrounding the tragedy continues.

Her comments come amid widespread discussion about the incident, including speculation about Chapman’s behaviour before he entered the enclosure.

For Taylor, however, the encounter was with a person who approached her for a photograph and appeared happy in that moment. She has asked people to keep an open mind and remember the human being at the centre of the tragedy.

Yorkshire Wildlife Park has confirmed that Altai will not be euthanised. A health and safety investigation into the death is ongoing, and officials have urged the public to respect the victim’s family and avoid sharing distressing footage.

As the investigation continues, Taylor’s account offers a poignant glimpse into the final moments before a tragedy that has left witnesses shaken and a family grieving an unimaginable loss.