Nabard Amin found him as he opened up early this morning. The man looked like he was asleep, his body lying on a grass verge strewn with rubbish and old car parts, off one of Manchester's busiest roads.
Just behind the car wash on the corner of Hyde Road and Bennett Street in West Gorton, close to where it becomes Ardwick, an abandoned car stands on its side against some bushes. On the other side of the hedge are four damaged cars believed to be owned by a second-hand car-selling operation based on the perimeter of the site.
READ MORE: Pregnant Manchester City executive jailed for stealing £100,000 from the club to pay for her wedding
Surrounding them are a dirty blanket, plastic sheeting, old car tyres and crumpled beer cans amongst other waste. And that is where Nabard found the 40-year-old man unresponsive on the ground, nestled in between two vehicles.
Nabard alerted the emergency services but the man, who has not yet been named, was declared dead at the scene. "He looked like he was asleep," a shocked and upset Nabard told the Manchester Evening News . "I was shouting him but he never said anything. I shouted my uncle, he came over, and we kept shouting and nothing.
"That's when we were really worried and called the police. They came with the ambulance and said that he was dead." The car wash and surrounding area were taped off by police for several hours this morning as officers carried out enquiries.
According to Nabard a number of belongings including the man's bag were found inside one of the small cars where it is now believed he may have been sleeping.
"It is very, very sad," Nabard said. "I had never seen him before and had no idea this was happening until till today.
"Maybe he is coming here at night, as in the day I would have seen him. It is worrying. If he had been in the car this morning we may not have seen him and not have found him for who knows, weeks, months.
"I do not know why he had to sleep outside. It is just so, so sad. Everyone here is upset today."
The man's cause of death has not yet been disclosed although police say there are believed to be no suspicious circumstances. The incident has caused significant shock and upset among both local politicians and those living nearby.
Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell said: "It's heartbreaking that someone's life can end in such tragic circumstances in the Manchester of 2022.
"Homelessness is a huge issue for the city, which gets harder and harder to deal with because of hits to the incomes of the poorest in society and cuts to the services which support them.
"It is a sad indictment of the Government's priorities that there are now greater numbers of people facing homelessness in our city and less money for services to support them.
"No one in our city should be sleeping in these conditions. The Council provide support to people facing homelessness and along with the GM Mayor, have worked on the Bed Every Night scheme which can provide urgent support for those who need it.
"It is really important that people know about the support that is out there to prevent tragedies like this from taking place on our streets."
Ardwick councillor Tina Hewiston also questioned how this could have happened in 21st-century Manchester.
"This is shocking and quite upsetting," she said "My condolences to this gentleman’s family and friends, this should not be happening in these times.
"No one should be living like this, how many more people are going to lose their lives? The cost of living is making it harder and harder for residents to keep a roof over their heads.
"This government has a lot to answer to. Manchester is reducing rough sleeping, but we need more affordable and appropriate accommodation.
"I will say this. if anyone does see anyone sleeping rough please contact the Homeless Team, you could be saving someone’s life."
Darrell Davis, 67, who has lived on Rostron Avenue, close to the scene of the tragedy, for over 30 years said: "I saw all the police there this morning as I walked past. It's disgusting people are having to live like that. It shows how hard it is at the minute. People are struggling.
"We have seen people sleeping underneath the railway arches before or in tents on the grass verge on the other side of Hyde Road but never there. It's certainly not the sort of place you would want to be sleeping. No one should have like that. It's very concerning."
Jean Doyle, 70, said: "It's terrible. If these people had homes to go to things like this wouldn't be happening. It's really upset me."
Donna Whittaker, 58, said: "I am shocked but not surprised. It's not the first time a homeless person was found near the Tesco in Gorton earlier on this year. It's a real shame."
Hendrix Lancaster, CEO of homeless charity Coffee 4 Craig said: "No one should find themselves in that situation and there shouldn't be circumstances that lead to them thinking that that is their only choice, especially in this day and age.
"But unfortunately it is not unique. He is not the first homeless person to have been found dead.
"We currently have three or four guests that are currently sleeping in their cars and two of them actually working they just can't afford a deposit or get anywhere to live."
A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police (GMP) said: "At 8.16am this morning, Monday, November 2022, police were called to reports of a body of a homeless man in a vehicle at the back of a car was on Hyde Road.
"Colleagues from the North West Ambulance Service (NWAS) attended and sadly pronounced the man dead at the scene.
"Officers believe that there are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death of the 40-year-old and are now tracing his next of kin."
Manchester City Council advises those who sees someone sleeping rough in the city to call them on 0161 234 5339 during the day or 0161 234 5001 outside of office hours. Alternatively, reports can be made to the charity Streetlink online here.
Read more of today's headlines here
READ NEXT:
