Emergency responders sent to the UK zoo where former child actor William Chapman was fatally mauled by a tiger may have accessed his medical records without authorization, officials said Friday.
The Yorkshire Ambulance Trust, part of the National Health Service, has opened an investigation into two employees who attended emergency calls at Yorkshire Wildlife Park. Chapman, 24, climbed over a fence on Oct. 10 before entering the big cat enclosure and being fatally attacked, The Guardian reported.
Ambulance officials told the health publication HSJ that Chapman’s medical information was accessed on “two instances” without a “legitimate reason.”
The suspected data breach occurred soon after reports emerged that Chapman had been attacked by the tiger. Health officials said the UK’s Information Commissioner’s Office was subsequently notified.
Chapman’s family later told officials that he had “a history of mental illness, a diagnosis of schizophrenia” and had been receiving psychiatric care.
The Yorkshire Ambulance Trust confirmed the potential breach and informed Chapman’s family that an investigation was underway, according to the outlet.
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Sky News reported that a full investigation is expected to take place in March.
Shortly before the fatal attack, Chapman posted a video on Instagram showing himself approaching Altai, a 420-pound Siberian tiger.
Chapman died at the scene. His cause of death was later recorded as multiple traumatic injuries and animal interaction.
His family said the former actor had severe mental health problems, reportedly including schizophrenia, and was taking strong medication when the horrific incident occurred.
Witnesses said Chapman had earlier been seen “pacing around with his headphones in” and “happily dancing.” He also reportedly asked unsuspecting zoo visitors to photograph him with the tiger in the background.
The incident is not the first time NHS staff have faced allegations of improperly accessing a patient’s medical records.
In June, dozens of people reportedly accessed the records of a boy who was attacked by an alligator at a zoo without authorization, Sky News reported.
