Body was in Derriford Hospital car park for two days
Police are investigating how the body an elderly man may have been left for up to two days slumped over the steering wheel of his car – at Derriford Hospital car park.
Police have confirmed they were alerted by paramedics shortly after 11am on Saturday, May 5 after the body of a man was found in a red Ford Fiesta in the hospital's car park.
-
CAR PARK: A man’s body lay slumped over the wheel of his car for two days
The 79-year-old man – who has not been named by police – is believed to have travelled to the hospital to keep an appointment on the preceding Thursday.
It is understood initial reports suggest his body may have lain undisturbed until he was discovered on the following Saturday.
Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk
View detailsOur heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.
Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk
Contact: 01858 468192
Valid until: Sunday, June 30 2013
The man was believed to have been from the Leigham area of the city.
His next of kin have been informed.
A post mortem examination of the man's body is expected to be carried out in the next few days and a file prepared for the Plymouth coroner ahead of an inquest.
A police spokesman said: "The deceased man is believed to be in his late seventies and was from the Plymouth area.
"Detectives do not believe this is a suspicious death at this time.
"An investigation is being carried out and police are liaising with the coroner."
Investigators have seized the car and are currently studying CCTV footage from the car park in an attempt to discover the circumstances surrounding the man's death.
A spokesperson for Plymouth Hospitals NHS Trust said: "We can confirm that the Trust notified the authorities following the discovery of the body of a deceased man in a parked car at Derriford Hospital on Saturday 5 May.
"The car was parked in a disabled parking area and was displaying a valid disabled badge. Disabled users have unlimited parking time on site and so do not need to display a ticket.
“The gentleman did attend a recent appointment at the hospital but it is not known when he returned to his car. All CCTV has been passed to the police and therefore we cannot say with any certainty how long he had been in his car.
“When the gentleman was discovered, the Trust’s emergency response team attended and subsequently paramedics and the police were called. Unfortunately the gentleman was deceased and his death is now subject to a Coroner’s investigation."
The Herald contacted VINCI Park UK, awarded a seven-year multi-million pound contract to provide parking, security and grounds maintenance service at Derriford Hospital from January 1 this year, and they have released this statement: “Our sympathies are with this gentleman’s family and we are doing everything we can to assist with the ongoing investigation.”
Detectives investigating the matter said they are keen to hear from anyone who may have been in the car park between Thursday and Saturday last week and seen an elderly man in or near a red Ford Fiesta. Anyone with information should call police on 101 quoting police log number 283 of 5/5/12.
Comments
by tek0801
Friday, May 18 2012, 2:48PM
“I wonder how many parking tickets were on his car.”
by Plymptonboy
Saturday, May 12 2012, 11:58AM
“Funny how the security company that run that car park can find a overdue ticket in minutes and find smokers in second yet cant find a ill man in need of medical attention.
This is disgusting and very sad !
the management at the hospital hang your heads in shame.
just shows its all about generating money.”
by maninmuffti
Friday, May 11 2012, 7:48PM
“in this day and age where more people take the attitude dont get involved , slumped over steering , having a sleep ? maybe drunk ?etc , are well nowt to with us thats the uk today a man was dead in a car on a newyork street for two wks , so it seems a world wide thing”
by pipmonster
Thursday, May 10 2012, 6:04PM
“This is very sad, that poor man died outside the very place he needed and he obviously died alone. Thoughts are with his friends and family.
How did nobody see him?
I don't understand there are enough curtain twitchers about surely some of them visited someone in hospital over the 2 days.
Last time I parked there the car parking attendants were waiting at my car at the ready to dish out a ticket and I still had 5 minutes left!”
by shipmateron
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 9:31PM
“Evidence, if we needed it, that people are always more famous after they have died.”
by PepelopeP
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 9:22PM
“This gentleman was obviously ill and in need of the hospital services. Unfortunately it was not to be and at least he could have the last laugh and know he parked there for free for 2 days.”
by Workitout
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 9:09PM
“The Guy Died. Typical of the local population to ignore it.
Fact,”
by MissAnthrope
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 9:03PM
“I'll have you know I recently lost my Aunt. It was a very distressing situation for the whole family. I had to phone 7 different off licences before I finally found out where she was. I suppose it was technically my fault as I'd managed to get all the local ones to stop serving her, but she's very determined is Maude.”
by whinger7643
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 8:50PM
“MissAnthrope I would not burden people on this website with my health problems or those of my family present or recently lost, nor do i carry a chip on my shoulder or wish anyone ill, and neither would i decry anyone in ill health with or without a disabled badge, which you clearly do.”
by MissAnthrope
Wednesday, May 09 2012, 8:38PM
“Whinger, you need to spend time around people who have just had a diagnosis of anaplastic astrocytoma or who is arriving for elective double mastectomy, or is visiting their intubated relative on ICU post RTA knowing they are never going to wake up and look them in the eye and tell them because they have no blue badge they must pay. Everyone visiting hopsital is doing it for a sad reason. If it were up to me it would be free, or do you have a problem with that?”