Kentish Express Ashford & District
Identity of migrant found dead in trailer might never be known
Authorities fear a migrant who died trying to reach the UK will never be identified, an inquest heard.
The man, thought to be in his 30s, was found dead in the back of a lorry in the car park of the Airport Cafe in Sellindge last October under a stack of Christmas catalogues.
The coroner said it was “a tragedy given he was no doubt someone’s brother, son or father” that he could not record the name of the man who had died.
An inquest into the man’s death concluded he died as a result of being crushed under the weight of the stack.
The lorry driver discovered the man buried beneath the cargo and rushed to the cafe where manager Julie Breen called police.
The hearing was told all that was visible was legs “protruding from the stack” of catalogues.
He was described as “a very thin Afro-Caribbean male with short curly black hair” with no tattoos, surgical scars or identifying marks. He had a small cut on his forehead but no other external injuries, the inquest heard.
Pathologist Dr Taylor found the man had no drugs or alcohol in his system but he did have Hepatitis B.
He said: “At the scene he was found underlying a great number of magazines which appear to have become dislodged and ended up upon his body.
“The cellophane wrapping does not appear to be in contact with his face.
‘At the scene he was found underlying a great number of magazines’
“In absence of any other significant findings, it appears likely that a direct chest traumatic compression asphyxia is the most likely cause of death.”
Investigating officer Det Sgt Simon Johnson of Kent Police told the inquest police received a phone call from the manager of the Airport Cafe saying a lorry driver had entered the cafe saying he could see a leg sticking out of the lorry.
He said when he arrived at the scene the lorry was parked in the corner and a plastic lighter and hat were found near the crate.
During the autopsy, two unregistered SIM cards and €550 in cash were found stitched into the hem of his clothing but he had no identity documents on him.
DNA and fingerprints were taken and have been cross-referenced with Interpol.
But DS Johnson said it was unlikely he will be identified unless he is known to international police.
The trailer had crates of catalogues as well as industrial size plastic pipes. Urine and other evidence was found in them leading authorities to conclude people had been hiding in them.
Paramedics and firefighters were also sent to the scene but no attempts were made to revive the victim.
“The trailer was full of a variety of cargo including stacks of Christmas catalogues.”
Mr Morris said it appeared that as the attempted to conceal himself within the trailer, a quantity of those catalogues fell on him.
He said Kent Police had undertaken “a very detailed and helpful” investigation.
“There was no third party involvement or suspicious circumstances.
“I’m unable to record the name of this deceased gentleman, a tragedy given he was no doubt someone’s brother, son or father.”
He said the cause of death was traumatic compressive asphyxia and the man had died by accident.