‘Mr A4’ died of natural causes, says investigation
AN INVESTIGATION into the death of a well-known homeless man who lived for many years beside a prominent West London roundabout has ruled that he died of ‘natural causes’.
John Dwyer, who was in his 70s, was found dead in his makeshift home beneath the A4 Chiswick Flyover last week (January 26).
A spokesperson for West London Coroner’s Court said that since a ‘natural cause of death’ had been identified there will be no inquest into Mr Dwyer’s final hours.
MyLondon was told the coroner has concluded the investigation, therefore , no inquest will be required.
Mr Dwyer was a prominent figure in the Brentford area and was well known to thousands of commuters who drove past his home every day.
In the almost 40 years he occupied his spot underneath the flyover, repeated efforts were made by authorities to relocate him.
In a statement, Hounslow Counci l said many attempts had been made to move Mr Dwyer from the roundabout over the 36 years he lived there but he had resisted as he regarded it as ‘his home’.
People leaving messages at the site since his death have said Mr Dwyer moved there after his wife and daughter died in a car crash on the road.
In his final years, Mr Dwyer did accept some help from the council and briefly left the area but soon returned to the place he felt most comfortable in.
It was in the makeshift camp he made that he died.
A spokesperson for Hounslow Council said: “John Dwyer, who was in his 70s, was well known to the council and other agencies who had, for many years, been trying to persuade John to move from his encampment beneath the A4 flyover at Chiswick Roundabout.
“John was very independently minded and resisted attempts to move him into accommodation, although last year John did accept some help and he stayed in accommodation for a short while but in the end decided to move back to where he was living as he regarded this as his home.”
Councillor Steven Curran, leader of Hounslow Council, expressed his sadness at Mr Dwyer’s death.
He said: “This is very sad news and I would like to give my sincere condolences to John’s family, friends and people that knew him.
“The council will be liaising with the coroner’s office, as well as relatives and friends to make John’s funeral arrangements.”