Smestow Academy in Wolverhampton closed today after pupils discovered a dead body during a PE lesson – police have now shed light on the man’s final movements
Police working at Smestow Academy, Wolverhampton, where pupils discovered the body of a man in the grounds this morning(Image: Anita Maric / SWNS)
Police have shared the final movements of a 45-year-old man who was found dead by a pupil on a school playing field during a PE lesson today.
Smestow Academy in Wolverhampton was forced to close, with pupils offered counselling after an 11-year-old schoolgirl was left shaken and “screaming” when she stumbled across the man’s body this morning.
Shocked members of her year seven PE class were the first ones to go onto the school field this week – with the school closed after advice from police. Cops have now issued an update detailing the movements of the man before he died.
West Midlands Police confirmed a 45-year-old man was ‘found with injuries’ in the grounds of Smestow Academy, a secondary school in Windmill Crescent in the Castlecroft area at around 10am. A spokesperson said: “We were called to a medical emergency in a field on Windmill Crescent, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton at 10.41am today.
The front gate of Smestow Academy, Wolverhampton(Image: Anita Maric / SWNS)
READ MORE: School girl ‘shaken up’ after grim discovery of dead body during PE lessonREAD MORE: Wolverhampton pupil, 11, rang mum ‘screaming’ after finding body during lesson
“Two ambulances and a paramedic officer responded to the scene where, sadly, one man was confirmed deceased.” Police officers initially arrived at the scene at around 10.40am as the school closed and work began to identify the man. Cops said this has now happened and specialist officers are supporting his family.
Detectives have also pieced together the man’s last movements. He was seen in Wheatsheaf Road at around 1am, which is some three-and-a-half miles away from the school, BirminghamLive reports.
He was then sighted at the school’s grounds at 7.15am. A spokesperson for West Midlands Police said: “We are appealing for information after a man was found dead on the grounds of a school in Wolverhampton.
The school was forced to close today(Image: Anita Maric / SWNS)
“A 45-year-old man was found with injuries on the grounds of Smestow Academy, Windmill Crescent this morning (19 Jan). He was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.”
The statement continued: “Specialist detectives are supporting his loved ones at this tragic time. We are currently treating his death as unexplained, and officers are reviewing CCTV footage from around the area to establish exactly what happened.
“The victim was seen at 1am this morning on Wheatsheaf Road, Wolverhampton and was then sighted on the school grounds at 7.15am.
“He was last seen wearing a distinctive camouflage jacket, grey gilet, jeans, and a beanie hat. He was also carrying a red rucksack and may have been wearing sunglasses.”
The school will reopen tomorrow(Image: Anita Maric / SWNS)
The force said the man’s death is currently being treated as ‘unexplained’ and it is urging anyone who may have seen the man between 1am and 7.15am to come forward.
Detective Chief Inspector Phil Poole, Homicide Unit, said: “We are in the early stages of our investigation, and I would ask that people do not speculate on the circumstances.
“We know this has caused concern in the community and there will be extra officers in the area for reassurance. Anyone who may have seen the victim in the early hours of this morning is urged to get in touch with us.”
The force spokesperson added: “You can do this by calling 101 or contact us via Live Chat quoting log 1452 of 19 January.”