15/10/2026
Within hours, strangers had diagnosed a man they had never met…
On Saturday 10th October, a 23 year old man sadly lost his life at the Yorkshire Wildlife Park, our neighbours and a valued part of our community. His family described him as “bright, warm and engaging”. That is who he was.
Before the facts were known, people online had already decided what he was. A condition, not a person. As if a label could explain someone’s life, or their ending… it simply cannot.
Labels have their place. For many people we work with, a diagnosis can open the door to the right support and help explain years of feeling misunderstood. Yes, a label can help us understand someone, but it should never define them. When people make assumptions about a person, they can quickly build a story around them. They begin to judge what someone is capable of, what they need and what they might be going through, without knowing the facts.
It’s so important for us to highlight that neurodivergent people work, raise families, run businesses and make important decisions every day. Thinking differently does not mean being unable. And everyone, whatever their circumstances, has their limits. None of us knows what happened for him that day. An investigation is underway, and we should give the facts time to emerge rather than filling the gaps with assumptions.
Before the next headline, perhaps we should pause and ask a different question. Not “what was he?” but “who was he, and what did he need?” That is where understanding starts. With the person, not the diagnosis.
Our thoughts are with his family, everyone who was there, and our neighbours at the park who are also carrying the weight of this tragedy. We’ll stand alongside them and show our support when the gates reopen. 💙
In the meantime, please remember that Hive businesses remain open and need our support more than ever as footfall has significantly reduced. If you can, please continue to visit, shop and support these local businesses during this incredibly difficult time. 💙
