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Man fell from tunnel bridge

10:32am Wednesday 7th May 2008

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Traffic chaos descended upon both sides of the Mersey on Tuesday when both the Wallasey and Birkenhead tunnels were closed after two separate incidents occured simultaneously.

A fire on New Chester Road in Birkenhead and an apparent suicide attempt near the entrance of the Kingsway tunnel in Wallasey were the cause of the traffic gridlock which lasted for over three hours.

At 3.30pm fire services were called to the blaze at Staniford Ltd which is thought to have been caused through an electrical fault.

The hazardous material team, who deal with chemical incidents, also attended after re-conditioned industrial drums and a large quantity of plastic containers were alight.

It took ten fire crews an hour and a half to dampen down the blaze.

The Kingsway tunnel was then closed after reports were received that a man had fallen from the Wheatland Lane bridge at 4.45pm. He suffered serious injuries and died at the scene.

The man has not yet been formally identified. He is decribed as being in his late 20s or early 30s, 5'10" with dark hair, and was wearing grey track suit bottoms, Reebok trainers and a short sleeved grey track suit top.

Police are appealing for anyone with information to call 709 6010.

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Your Say YourWirral Globe

John, says...
3:38pm Wed 7 May 08

Tragic.

I was in New Chester Road when this happened and the traffic was terrible.

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Alan, Wallasey says...
3:46pm Wed 7 May 08

When is someone going to take responsibility and increase the height of the fencing on these bridges?

Suicides will happen unless steps are taken to prevent people doing it from these places. In Scarborough they have the valley bridge which was a notorious suicide spot and in the end they put large fences up that curved inwards at the top and there are no suicides on that bridge any more.

I get very worried every time I drive under those bridges these days. A body falling from that height could kill me and any passengers I might be carrying.

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Rosa, Prenton says...
3:53pm Wed 7 May 08

That bridge over the motorway is far too exposed & open to people planning to jump or drop objects onto cars travelling below. It is very irresponsibible, whomever is responsible for the bridge & pathway not to have high mesh fencing to protect the motorway and deter potential jumpers.

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Helen, Wirral says...
4:13pm Wed 7 May 08

Get real people, if someone suicidal wants to jump off something a bit of mesh is not going to stop them!

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Pierre Durand, wirral says...
4:24pm Wed 7 May 08

I was stuck on Kelvin road and saw the body. There was families standing around on the bridge with young children like they were at the zoo, starring. Very sick.

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Rosa, Prenton says...
5:12pm Wed 7 May 08

Helen, strong wire mesh is a proven deterrant on other motorway overpasses, in other area. Of course you can also add a CCTV camera directly connected to an Emergency Services control room display, which they have in Humberside, Bristol, Yorkshire & Devon?

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Bee, Wallasey says...
5:29pm Wed 7 May 08

I was on the other side of the tunnel slowly driving through, with police escort about 20 minutes after this is meant to have happened. The body was covered and hidden from the side, thank God. The biggest problem, the horrible people who brought their children to WATCH from above. Its a disgrace!

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gail, wirral says...
8:32pm Wed 7 May 08

re the chaos yesterday, a fire and a death,while this is real,life and sad as it seems, lets stop and think all the earlier comments regarding higher fencing, should we not express and vent this to our local councillors, you know the ones we voted for last week,oh yes i didnt see any door to door going on but yes ah a note in my mailbox saying vote labour, if only they knew...

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fish5133, birkenhead says...
9:50pm Wed 7 May 08

Was there today lollipoping and had heart in mouth watching youngsters leaning over railings to look below. Id go for higher meshrailings if only to stop kids leaning over

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Alan, Wallasey says...
10:15pm Wed 7 May 08

Helen wrote:
Get real people, if someone suicidal wants to jump off something a bit of mesh is not going to stop them!
Who said anything about mesh? I was talking about proper railings to a decent height that curve inwards at the top.

True if people want to kill themselves then they will do it. I am more concerned with them taking some innocent with them.

Just take the pills with a bottle of booze if you must.

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kerri, morteon says...
10:03am Thu 8 May 08

my partner saw this happen and said it was sickening eccspesialy for the children

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robert, wallasey says...
6:50pm Thu 8 May 08

its very sad. a man was so unhappy he decided to end his life! i do believe the railings should be changed. i often see kids on the bridge and i worry that they will throw things as people drive under it.

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amazed!!!, says...
9:08am Fri 9 May 08

It is a tradgedy when a person decides to end their life.It is also very tragic for those people that witness the event and the aftermath that follows.As regards this said bridge higher fencing can only offer a futher deterent to the potential suicider.I use this section of tunnel road frequently and dread it, because of it's history of suicides and the throwing of missiles.I can and do change my route frequently.My sympathies lie with the suicide's family and those people that witnessed this horrific event.

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AshleighCurran, Liverpool says...
10:28pm Thu 15 May 08

I was lucky enough to know the person in question.I have some great memories. He was one of a kind and i will miss him so much!!..
R.I.P Philly x x

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WENDY BELL, MORETON says...
11:46pm Thu 15 May 08

IM THE MUM OF THIS PERSON THAT COMMITED SUICIDE. HE HAS A NAME ITS PHILLY BELL FROM MORETON.WE HAVE ONLY LEARNT OF HIS DEATH THIS MONDAY,AFTER HIS BROTHER HAD 2 OFFICIALLY IDENTIFY HIM. THE REASON 4 THIS DELAY WAS THR DESCRIPTION THAT WAS GIVEN,AS PHILLY BEIN LATE 20'S EARLY 30'S 5FT 10IN. PHILLY WAS 23 AND WAS 6FT 2IN' HE WAS REPORTED MISSING ON THE WEDNESDAY,WE FOUND OUT ON 12TH MAY. 6DAYS MY BABY WAS LYIN IN A COLD MORGUE,HIS FAMILY NOT KNOWIN ABOUT IT. HIS SISTER EVEN GOT CAUGHT UP IN THE TURMOIL NOT KNOWNING IT WAS HER BROTHER. WERE SORRY FOR THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAD TO WITNESS THIS TRAGEDY BUT THOSE SICK PEOPLE WHO REPORTIDLY FILMED IT SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. ITS DISGUSTING TO THINK THAT OUR LOSS IS BEING USED FOR PEOPLES ENTERTAINMENT. PHILLY WAS CONSTANTLY LET DOWN BY A FAILING SYSTEM FOR SEVEN YEARS. WE HAVE FAUGHT FOR BETTER CARE FOR HIM IN THE HEALTH SYSTEM BY CONTACTING LOCAL MP AND EVEN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS BUT THEY STILL FAILED TO MEET HIS NEEDS. WE ARE HAVING HIS FUNERAL NEXT WEEK AND WE ARE INTENDING TO LEAVE A TRIBUTE TO HIM AT THE SCENE AND WISH PEOPLE WILL RESPECT THEM AND LEAVE HIM AND THEM TO REST IN PEACE. PHILLY WAS A SPECIAL PERSON, ONE IN A MILLION AND WILL ALWAYS REMAIN OUR GENTLE GIANT. REST IN PEACE SON X X

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Kevin, Tranmere says...
4:28am Fri 16 May 08

Sorry to hear about ur son luv my thoughts an prayers are with u all at this sad time xxx

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Si Anderton, Moreton, Wirral says...
10:02pm Sun 25 May 08

I am a friend of Phillys, he was such a star, he is a star. Alan from wallasey made a discusting comment about pills and booze... Have some respect mate, Philly was a person, a person with a massive heart and a huge following of family and friends, it showed at his funeral.

R.I.P Philly

From, Si, Abbo, Dud, Reidy, Ian, Graham, Dave H, Danny M, Keith, Gav, Crisso, Philly, Gordy, Gatesy, Ben, Si, Roy and so so many more.

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Clare, wallasey says...
10:43pm Tue 27 May 08

I am so sorry for you loss. I truly am. My heart broke when i heard as i cannot imagine what could cause someone to do such a thing.

I think people should be venting their frustrations at a better support system for those who feel the urge to do these things, rather than campaigning for higher fences!!

Perhaps if their was more support and help, this sort of tragedy could be prevented rather than averted to another spot (with a lower fence.....)

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