Drone footage may hold clues to death of ‘stone attack’ angler
A DRONE pilot may have vital footage which could help catch two people who allegedly threw rocks at angler Charlie Hilder before he died.
Police are appealing for help to find the owner of the drone seen flying in the area at the time Mr Hilder, 66, collapsed and died at picturesque Lullingstone Castle in Eynsford, Kent.
Mr Hilder was fishing on the private secluded lake at the Grade I listed mansion on Thursday when fellow members of his angling club say he may have become involved in a confrontation with poachers. It is understood two boys or teenagers threw stones or rocks at him while he was on his boat.
It is thought he later died at the scene. But it is not clear if he was struck by a rock. A post mortem examination is to be held to establish the exact cause of death. His family were too upset to talk at the family home in Romford yesterday.
Detectives from the Kent and Essex Serious Crime Directorate are appealing for witnesses. A Kent Police spokesman said: “Officers would like to speak to the owner of a drone that was believed to be flying in the area at the time of the incident and may have important video footage.
“Kent Police was called at 5.21pm on Thursday to reports of a disturbance in the grounds of Lullingstone Castle. It is reported he [Mr Hilder] may have been involved in an altercation with two boys or teenagers near to a lake within the grounds, prior to his death.”
Det Ch Insp Gavin Moss, the senior investigating officer, said: “We continue to appeal for information from anybody who witnessed the incident or saw two young people in the vicinity of the lake between 12pm and 7pm. One of them may have been carrying a fishing rod.
“There were lots of people in the area including cyclists, joggers, dog walkers, anglers and golfers. Some will have taken photographs or videos that may assist us, and we are keen to speak to anybody who was near the gatehouse or in a car park next to the lake.”
Detectives also want to obtain dashcam footage from any vehicles that travelled along Castle Road or Shoreham Road between 12pm and 7pm.