The inquest opening at Doncaster Coroner’s Court on 15 October 2026 placed William Chapman’s mental-health history at the centre of proceedings. Coroner’s officer Caitlin Brookes informed Senior Coroner Nicola Mundy that Chapman, 24, had a history of mental illness, a diagnosis of schizophrenia and previous bouts of psychosis. He was under the care of adult mental health services in Doncaster via the Rotherham, Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation Trust, yet was described as highly functioning and independent with no care requirements.

His family had expressed a number of concerns about his contact with those services in the period leading up to his death; the trust has launched an investigation and the family are aware of it. In their public statement the family said Chapman had suffered significant mental illness over a number of years and was consequently prescribed strong medication; they left it to the coroner to decide what part that played in his death. They also asked the public to cease circulating distressing media and to respect the official process.

Chapman, born William Harry Bruce Chapman in Chichester in 2002, was a self-employed online trader living independently in Doncaster at the time of his death. Neighbours described him as polite, well-spoken and self-contained. The family did not attend the opening hearing. The full inquest is listed for 18 March 2027. Parallel investigations include City of Doncaster Council’s health-and-safety review of the park and the preservation of CCTV ordered by the coroner.

The contrast between the formal description of Chapman as highly functioning and independent and the family’s account of long-term illness and strong medication now forms a key line of inquiry for the coroner and the NHS trust’s patient-safety review. Officials continue to examine the support he received in the weeks and months before he climbed the fences and entered the enclosure on 10 October.