A homeless man who died alone on a patch of wasteland yards from busy shops has still not been identified more than six months after his body was found.
Merseyside Police and Knowsley Council are still looking for anyone who knew the man, who had been sleeping in a tent, after a member of the public noticed his body on a patch of wasteland off Dinas Lane, Huyton, on January 28. Investigations carried out at the time including examination of CCTV footage found no suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.
When the ECHO visited the scene around a fortnight later, a collapsed tent, a foam mat and a backpack remained on the patch of ground, close to a row of shops and the junction with busy dual carriageway Liverpool Road. Police described the man as middle-aged, and said he was clutching a brown jacket when he was found.
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For the people living and working close by, the man's death was a surprise. One man living a few doors down from the scene said he had no idea rough sleepers had been using the patch of land. He said: "I know there are a few homeless people by the Asda in Huyton Village, but I have never seen anyone here. I have been close to that lifestyle myself a few times in my life, and I never pass someone by, I always stop and give them something.
"If I had seen him I would have tried to help him."
A driver for A1 Taxis, based opposite the waste ground, said: "It's really sad. As a taxi driver you see all walks of life and I am seeing more rough sleepers to be honest. It's strange that no-one seems to know who he is."
Another local resident added: "It's so sad, someone must be missing him." Those with knowledge of the homelessness support sector said because the man does not appear to have been known to services, he may have been ineligible for support.
This week Merseyside Police confirmed the man was still unidentified but added "extensive enquiries" remain ongoing.
A spokesman for Knowsley Council said at the time: “This is a very sad case, and we would urge anyone who knew the gentleman to contact Merseyside Police.
“Once we were made aware of the tragic incident, we checked with our service provider to find out if he was known to us. Unfortunately he was not and there had been no reports of rough sleeping in the area where the man was found.
"If anyone has concerns of homelessness rough sleeping they should report this through to the Council. Our Housing Solutions Service can be contacted on 0151 443 2333. The Council work with a commissioned provider The Whitechapel Centre who deliver an outreach service for us.
"Where rough sleeping is reported and identified the service actively go out to the area reported with the aim of identifying the persons said to be rough sleeping with the aim of engaging with them and resolving their situation."
At the time Merseyside Police launched a public appeal on February 8, Detective Inspector Lisa Milligan said: “Despite our extensive enquires and forensic examinations we are sadly still trying to uncover who the man is that was found on Dinas Lane. The man is described as a middle-aged white male, approximately 5ft 10in tall of slim build with short grey hair and a grey beard. He was wearing denim jeans and was carrying a brown jacket.
"I would appeal to anyone who was on Dinas Lane on Friday 28 January and may have seen or know this man or witnessed anything out of the ordinary to come forward as soon as possible. We believe the man may have been homeless and sleeping in a tent, he may be known locally in the area."
Anyone with information, CCTV or dashcam footage is asked to contact @MerPolCC, 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111 quoting reference 22000067781
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