Man, 53, died on chimney after ‘crisis’

A GRANDFATHER died after becoming stuck upside down in freezing conditions at the top of a 280-foot chimney, his inquest has heard.

Robert Philip Longcake, known as Phil, had been troubled by a police decision not to prosecute allegations of historical sexual abuse in the months leading up to him climbing Dixon’s Chimney in Carlisle at 5.40pm on October 27 last year, the inquest heard.

But, coroner Dr Nicholas Shaw said he could not be certain if the 53-year-old had attempted to jump or had changed his mind at the top of the chimney when his boot became caught on a ladder.

Mr Longcake, a crematorium officer from Carlisle, was brought down from the building at 4.40pm on October 28, almost 24 hours after he began to climb it, and pronounced dead shortly after.

In a statement read to the court, his widow Andrea said her husband started what seemed to be a mid-life crisis in April last year and spoke to police about historical sexual abuse in August.

She said he moved out of the family home on October 19 after she discovered he was having an affair with Heather Wilson, who attended the hearing.

Mr Longcake had attempted suicide in August and earlier in October, she said.

She said: “Phil was a good man, a good husband, a good father and a good grandfather who never put a foot wrong until this year.”

PC Andrea Williams told the court there had not been enough evidence to proceed with Mr Longcake’s allegations of abuse.

Recording a narrative verdict, Dr Shaw said it was likely Mr Longcake died at about 8am.

His cause of death was recorded as hypothermia and cerebral swelling due to inverted suspension.