The Yorkshire Ambulance Trust has opened an investigation into two of its staff members after they accessed the medical records of William Chapman, 24, without a legitimate reason following his death in a tiger attack at Yorkshire Wildlife Park.
Chapman, a former child actor, died on October 10 after scaling a fence and entering the enclosure of Altai, a 420-pound Siberian tiger. His cause of death was later recorded as multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction.
According to The Guardian, ambulance officials confirmed to the health trade publication HSJ that there were “two instances” in which Chapman’s medical information was viewed without proper cause. The breach reportedly took place shortly after news broke of the attack, and the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office was notified as a result.
The Yorkshire Ambulance Trust, part of the National Health Service, has since informed Chapman’s family of the investigation. A full inquiry is expected to take place in March, according to Sky News.
Chapman’s family has said he had a history of mental illness, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia, and had been under psychiatric supervision. He was reportedly taking heavy medication at the time of his death.
Witnesses said that before the attack, Chapman was seen pacing with his headphones in and dancing, and had asked other visitors at the park to photograph him with the tiger visible behind him. He had also posted a video to Instagram showing himself approaching the animal shortly before entering the enclosure.
This is not the first time NHS staff have faced scrutiny over unauthorised access to patient files. In June, Sky News reported that dozens of NHS employees improperly viewed the records of a boy who had been attacked by an alligator at a separate zoo.
