The lifeless body of a man was yesterday afternoon fished out of a trench at East La Penitence.
Residents of the area said the man was a vagrant; he was identified only as “Matil”. Further, he was described as an alcoholic who was once a resident of the nearby Night Shelter, but was discharged in 2014.
The discovery was made around 2.30 pm yesterday by a passerby. According to reports, the man had been sitting on the rail of the bridge which separates Freeman Street, East La Penitence and the East La Penitence dam, when he fell into the trench.
The body bore no visible marks of violence. However, a walking stick, a hat and $40 were found at the scene.
When this newspaper visited the scene yesterday, a resident said that “Matil” was known in the community. “He used to be in the Night Shelter and a while now I was seeing he around begging and so…,” the man said.
The body was transported to the Lyken Funeral Home and an investigation has been launched.