Fatality on track near Weston (15 June 2011)

[whole diary]

[JayMac]

A news item from burnham-on-sea.com that appears not to have been picked up by other news outlets. I can't quote the full article for copyright reasons.

http://www.burnham-on-sea.com/news/2011/railway-death-15-06-11.php

[TheLastMinute]

The Weston Mercury picked up on it, and also followed up the report with another when his name was release.

British Transport Police (BTP^▸ (British Transport Police)) have named the man who was found next to the line at Bleadon Hill on Wednesday as Peter James Mathias, of Upper Church Road, Weston.

Following a post mortem examination this morning, the 54-year-old^s injuries were described as being consistent with having fallen from a great height.

<snip>

[JayMac]

Thanks for that TLM, my Googling skills were obviously lacking at 4am this morning. I trawled the local press online and failed to find that article. 

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the Bristol Evening Post:

Man found on track fell to his death

Investigations by British Transport Police into the body of a man found at a railway track near Weston-super-Mare have established he fell to his death.

The man's body was found on Wednesday of last week alongside a railway track at Bleadon, sparking suggestions he had been hit by a train.

However, police say the man, who has now been identified as Peter Mathias, 54, of Upper Church Road, Weston, died after falling.

British Transport Police spokesman Brian Price said: "A BTP^▸ (British Transport Police) investigation was launched and officers confirmed Mr Mathias had not been struck by a train."

Mr Price said a post mortem examination carried out yesterday had confirmed Mr Mathias died from injuries consistent with having fallen from a height.

The inquest into his death was opened and adjourned by the coroner yesterday.

Detective Inspector Mick Southerton, who is leading the investigation, urged anyone with information concerning the last movements of Mr Mathias to come forward.

DI Southerton said: "Our enquiries show that Mr Mathias was last seen at around midday on Monday, June 13, in Weston-super-Mare."

He urged anyone who saw Mr Mathias after that time to contact British Transport Police on Freefone 0800 40 50 40, quoting incident reference 65 of 15/06/2011.

[TheLastMinute]

I feel it's appropriate to say at this point that I'm sure everyone on the forum would like to express their condolences to the family and friends of the Mr. Mathias.