Neighbour's shock at finding elderly Eden man dead in snow

Dawn Harrison, who has known William Wilson, aged 84, since she was a little girl, found him lying dead at around 9.45am on Tuesday morning.

He was in his garden in the tiny hamlet of Waitby, which lies about two miles west of Kirkby Stephen.

Mrs Harrison had been asked to call at the house by Mr Wilson's anxious daughter-in-law.

"She 'phoned me as he was not answering his telephone,” said Mrs Harrison.

“I went around to check and saw him lying half-buried in the snow in the back yard.

“I went back to get my Dad as I did not want to go any further on my own.”

Mrs Harrison added: “He was such a nice, kind man. He never forgot any of my birthdays.”

Mrs Harrison's grandmother, Cathy Robinson, said she had known Mr Wilson, known locally as 'Willy', for more than 50 years.

She said he was renowned in the hamlet for his sheep because they used to come up to people's windows when he was herding them in the field behind the homes.

Cumbria Police confirmed that Mr Wilson lived alone, though they have yet to officially name him.

Police said it was believed he went out into his garden some time after dark on Monday night.

Officers are now investigating whether a fall or medical episode may have contributed to his death.

This afternoon, another neighbour, who did not wish to be named, told the Gazette that he was known in the village as Willy.

"He was a very nice, quiet bloke," he said.

"He did not come out very much. He liked to keep himself to himself but he was very friendly."

He said that he believed he had a son called John, who lived in Kirkby Stephen.

John was at the house this afternoon but he declined to comment when approached by a Gazette reporter.

A Met Office spokesman said temperatures in nearby Shap and Brough reached -8.2 degree C on Monday night and were at -2 on Tuesday morning.

A spokeswoman for the North West Ambulance Service confirmed today that they were called to the scene on Tuesday.

“We were called to an address in Waitby near Wharton House.

"The death was cardiac related. He was declared dead at the scene,” said the spokesman.

Two miles away, in the town of Kirkby Stephen, traders had been unaware of the incident.

A spokesperson at the Co-op said: "I haven't heard about anyone dying up there. It's such a pity."

In a separate tragic incident, officers were called to a house on Pinfold Street, Workington at 10.40am on Wednesday after 80-year-old Lillian Jenkinson died in her back garden.

An investigation is under way into the circumstances of her death.

However, police said initial indications would suggest Mrs Jenkinson might have fallen in her garden overnight before she died.

Assistant Chief Constable Jerry Graham said: “The severe winter weather which has gripped the county has made many outdoor areas hazardous so we are reminding everyone to take extra care, particularly in the hours of darkness when visibility is poor.

“Please make sure you wrap up warm and wear appropriate clothing and footwear if you do need to venture outside, even for a few minutes.

"Two elderly people have tragically died in their gardens in the last week and we know they were closely supported by family and neighbours, however not everyone has that support.

“So I would ask everyone to keep an eye out for vulnerable people in their community, particularly those who are elderly and live alone.”

Professor John Ashton, Cumbria’s Director of Public Health, said: "I don't know the medical circumstances of the two deaths this week but last year there were about 300 excess winter deaths in Cumbria from December to the end of February than there were in summer - that is around 30 a week, or four a day.

"They are mainly over 75-year-olds and they mostly have chest infections or heart failure which is often brought on by being chilled either going our of doors or going into a cold bedroom when they have only had one room heated downstairs because they cannot afford to keep the whole house warm.

"These deaths could be a wake-up call to us as a community to look out for older folk who are frail.

"There is a role here perhaps for parish councils to mobilise the communities and for churches to get everybody to have an interest in what is going on.

"We have to ensure that the Big Society is activated in Cumbria.

"However, elderly people are quite proud and don't always go looking for help and people are quite reserved and don't like to be seen as nosy, so we are our own worse enemies.

"We also had a big increase in falls and fractures last winter, which can often lead to pneumonia.

"There are fewer excess deaths among the elderly in Scandinavia, where house insulation is better and pensions are higher."

"I would encourage everyone to be a good neighbour and keep an eye on older people.

"Often it can be as simple as asking someone if they have everything they need to keep warm, or offering to clear paths if they are iced up”.

Prof Ashton issued the following advice to keep warm and well during periods of cold weather:

• Keep curtains drawn and doors closed to block out draughts.

• Have regular hot drinks and at least one hot meal a day if possible. Eating regularly helps keep energy levels up during winter.

• Wear several light layers of warm clothes (rather than one chunky layer).

• Keep as active as possible.

• Wrap up warm if you need to go outside on cold days.

• Keep your main living room at around 18- 21°C (64-70°F), and the rest of the house at least 16°C (61°F). If you can’t heat all the rooms you use, heat the living room during the day and the bedroom just before you go to sleep.

Valerie Brook, chief executive of Age Concern in Eden, urged elderly residents to contact the charity if needed.

“In the current conditions we would advise people not to go outside unless absolutely necessary.

"If they do have to go outside they should wrap up warm with hats, gloves and scarves and wear sturdy sensible shoes.

“Anyone with an elderly relative or neighbour should look out for them and make sure they are warm in their homes and have enough food and supplies.”

Mrs Brook said the charity could provide portable heaters, hot soup and home insulation assessments to elderly residents in need.

Anyone requiring these services should contact Age Concern Eden on: 01768-341783.