Yorkshire Ambulance Service probes medical record breach after fatal tiger attack

The Yorkshire Ambulance Service has launched an investigation into a potential data breach involving the medical records of William Chapman, a 24-year-old former child actor. Chapman was fatally mauled by a Siberian tiger named Altai at Yorkshire Wildlife Park on October 10 after climbing a fence into the enclosure.

Officials reported two instances where staff members allegedly accessed or attempted to access Chapman’s medical information without a “legitimate reason” following the incident. The Yorkshire Ambulance Trust, part of the NHS, has notified Chapman’s family and the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) regarding the matter.

A coronial inquest at Doncaster Coroner’s Court recently heard that Chapman’s cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries resulting from the tiger attack. The inquest also noted Chapman’s history of mental illness, specifically a diagnosis of schizophrenia. While the zoo has since reopened to the public, the investigation into the unauthorized access of sensitive health data continues.