CCTV operators watched a homeless man die in toilets in Ashford but did nothing to summon help or medical aid, an inquest has been told.
Eric ‘The Viking’ Hughes was found dead outside the public loos in New Rents in November 2007.
He was spotted by police and concerned shopkeepers in the hours leading up to his death and CCTV crews were advised to monitor his condition.
But the council-run operators did not call for an ambulance even after one local businessman advised he did not think Mr Hughes would be able to survive a night in the cold. He was told, instead, simply to make him a cup of tea.
Mr Hughes, a well-known figure in the town, had been sleeping rough for some time. The inquest in Ashford got under way on Monday. The jury is expected to make a decision into the cause of his death on either Tuesday or Wednesday.
Coroner Rachel Redman said the inquest was being held to establish the facts around Mr Hughes’ death. She also said that the case had implications for the wider public safety.
Mr Hughes, 52, who had a long standing alcohol problem, was first seen by police officers the day before his death inside the toilets in New Rents at around 3.30pm.
After they checked his condition and were satisfied that he was not injured they left the scene asking CCTV operators to keep an eye on Mr Hughes. He remained in the area right up until his body was discovered the next morning in the shelter adjoining the toilets.
During this time he was monitored by CCTV operators in Ashford council’s control room.
Dr David Rouse, the pathologist who carried out an autopsy on Mr Hughes’s body, said the most likely cause of death was hypothermia. He also said that complications with alcohol had contributed to the death.
Later that night, Mr Hughes was seen by Andrew Hollinson, at the time, the owner of the Underside Bar opposite the toilets. He made radio contact on the Town Net Radio Service with the CCTV control to warn them about his condition.
The inquest was played a recording of Mr Hollinson’s conversation with the CCTV operators. In it he said that he did not think that Mr Hughes would be able to survive in the cold until the next morning.
He was told by the control centre that Mr Hughes did not fit the homeless criteria that would result in a council officer being sent out to check on him but they suggested he make him a cup of tea to help him get warm.
The court then watched CCTV footage of Mr Hughes being given tea by Mr Hollinson. The footage continued up until his death in the shelter.
Gareth Recht a senior CCTV operator who was on duty at the time said that Mr Hughes was a well known person in the town. He had been viewed by cameras many times during the run up to his death by the town’s CCTV system. He had been verbally advised of Mr Hughes situation when he took over his shift and had continued to monitor him.
He had actually met him in the town two days before his death and had given him some money to go and buy chocolate and some clothes and later saw him with some new gloves.
He said: “From my perspective there was nothing unusual Mr Hughes behaviour.”
The inquest continues.
POSTED: 03/03/2009 09:06:39
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