Residents have spoken of their shock after a man's "unexplained" death in a quiet area of Newcastle.
Emergency services were called to a field off Highbury in Jesmond in the early hours of this morning after "concern" for a man's welfare shortly before midnight. Northumbria Police and the North East Ambulance Service attended, but the man's death was confirmed at the scene.
Dog walkers, residents and those cycling through the usually quiet area were shocked and saddened to find a death had occurred on their doorstep. A large police cordon had been set up around a tent, with the entrance to the field also cordoned off as late as lunchtime on Wednesday morning.
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One resident of Highbury told ChronicleLive at the scene: "I've never seen this (a police cordon here) before. There's no trouble around here.
"The students are wonderful people, they don't tend to bother anybody."
Another resident said: "I suppose really the field has been quite heavily used by students and school kids during the sunny days. It's a bit tragic really."
Many passing through the area would usually walk their dogs on the field, but were taking a detour due to the presence of the tent. One dog walker said: ""It’s not what you expect in your neighbourhood and on your doorstep.
"I pick the litter up on the field every morning when I’m walking my dog. I’ve got two teenage boys who play football here.
"I’ll be telling them what’s happening. I won’t be keeping them in but hopefully they’ll make some sensible decisions."
Another dog walker told us: "Lots of people walk their dogs here but no-one dies."
The area is also a popular cut through for cyclists, with a few stopping their bikes out of curiosity. One cyclist said: "It's a shock seeing that here, every time you turn the news on something horrible happens doesn't it?"
An investigation has been launched into the incident and Northumbria Police Superintendent Sharon Chatterton has encouraged people to avoid speculation around the death both online and in the wider community.
Superintendent Chatterton said: "This is clearly an incredibly difficult time for the man’s family and our thoughts are with them. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the man’s death is at a very early stage and we are keeping an open mind as to what may have occurred."
Anyone with information can contact Northumbria Police via the 'Tell Us Something' page of the force website or by calling 101 quoting log NP-20230530-1450.
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