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Skeleton found at Hedgerley was that of Eastern European migrant

Posted by Polly Manser on Oct 21, 09 01:22 PM in

A HUMAN skeleton discovered in woods at Hedgerley was probably that of a young man who had come to the UK from Eastern Europe in search of work.


It was discovered in a shed on the Portman Berkeley Estate on Hedgerley Lane, by pig farmer Timothy Roscue who was renting land there.
On 22 August 2007 he went with his children to check on his pigs and take his dog for a walk, and discovered the skeleton in three layers of clothing. A rucksack nearby contained a clothes peg and toilet paper, Amersham Coronor's Court heard today.
Tests revealed the man was around 27 years old and that he died seven months to two years before discovery.
Examination of isotopes from hair and toenails revealed his diet was consistent with somebody who had been in the UK less than a month and who came from Iceland, Northern Scandinavia, Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Romania or parts of the Ukraine, according to a report by Dr Wolfram Meier Augenstein of Dundee University.
Coronor Richard Hulett said: "He probably entered the country illegally, otherwise he wouldn't be living in desperate circumstances. Up until 2004 there was restriction on entry to the UK from (many of those countries) so people were free to enter and stay in lodgings or with relatives."
He added: "It's more likely that he was from Ukraine, Belarus, Ukraine or Romania. It may be that he entered the country illegally, maybe in the back of a lorry. He may have had companions, it may be that he fell sick with some sort of pneumonia."
He continued: "He sought refuge in this hut and died there. I've more than a passing suspicion that he had companions with him and that they removed his ID to avoid an entanglement with the authorities."
He added: "He's probably left relatives behind somewhere in Eastern Europe, presumably he was somebody's son or spouse and they will be wondering what's become of him."
The remains will be buried or cremated by South Bucks District Council

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