The Southend-On-Sea Man

Case 04-006006

A fresh appeal has been launched by the British Transport Police (BTP) in an attempt to identify an unidentified male found almost 25 years ago.

The British Transport Police report that the unidentified male was seen on Tuesday the 14th of November 2000 “wondering” around Southend. They also said in their appeal “He was seen walking along the platform at Southend East railway station in the direction of South and Central”. Kent Live reports “The male was seen on CCTV at 11.40pm the night before walking along the platform of Southend East Station in the direction of Southend Central Station. He was described as unsteady on his feet.” this may have been due to hypothermia.

Reports by Kent Live suggest that two important witnesses and CCTV provided a timeline of the Southend-On-Sea man’s last movements.

Timeline

11.30am Witness A reports seeing the male that morning and he was staggering around as if he was drunk

10.35pm – Witness A later saw him at Southend East Station

11.40pm – Witness A also reported seeing the male on the London bound platform

11:40pm – The Booking Office Clerk in the station also reports the male staggering around at this time and he ejected him from the station for his own safety. The Booking office clerk also reported seeing the male at the end of his shift.

11.40pm – The male was seen on CCTV walking along the platform of Southend East Station in the direction of Southend Central Station.

The next morning when it was cold and frosty at around 6:30am – 7:30am on Wednesday the 15th of November 2000, a train driver saw a body by the tracks between Southend East and Southend Central stations.

He was pronounced deceased at the scene, a cause of death has not been established but his death is not believed to be suspicious. When found the Southend-on-Sea man wore no upper clothing and some items were found near by.

A spokesperson for the British Transport Police DC Saunders said: “The circumstances here are truly tragic – a man dying alone with no apparent family or friends aware of their whereabouts and, after all this time, still in the dark about their death. Despite significant enquiries at the time and since, this man’s identity remains unconfirmed and their next of kin uninformed.

“We’ll be conducting further enquiries in Southend-on-Sea over the coming days so that we can give someone somewhere who has spent far too long without answers some much needed closure.”

I have collected around 600+ cases from the UKMPU in the hopes to capture and document the data from these cases and provide a place where all the research done by services, organisations, the media, the public and content creators in one place. I also use this information to produce posters and extra visual content for creators and the media to use in their reports and it’s cases like this one that really need this service by myself.

In a previous report on the 13th anniversary of the unidentified males death Det Con Tony Gittins, leading the investigation, said: “This man must be someone’s father, son, brother, uncle, nephew or cousin. It is vital that we can bring closure to his family and inform them as soon as possible.

“We have been working closely with the UK Missing Persons Bureau as part of our enquiries to resolve this case and hope that this anniversary will bring to light further information which would assist us greatly in this investigation.”

Joe Apps, from the UK Missing Persons Bureau, added: “We hope that through the publicity we will spur a family member or friend to come forward and identify the individual and offer some peace to the family of a missing person.”

The unidentified man was laid to rest in April 2001, without his name, and without his family knowing he has passed.

Pre-mortem Injuries: No information Available

Post-mortem Injuries: No information Available

Case number: reference 2300033045 (British Transport Police)

Type: Body

Gender: Male

Age range: Around 65 years old

Ethnicity: Afro-Caribbean

Height: 176cm (5ft 7in)

Build: Average

Date found: 15 November 2000

Circumstances: On Tuesday 14 November 2000, a man who is believed to have been homeless was seen wandering around Southend. He was seen walking along the platform at Southend East railway station in the direction of South and Central. The following morning, on Wednesday 15 November, the man was found dead at around 7.30am near to Southend-East railway station.

Cause of Death: Unable to establish but may be hypothermia

Possessions:

£9.82 cash
Lighter
Rolling papers
Tube from alchometer

Town: Southend-On-Sea

Locality: Southend East railway station

County: Essex

Police force: British Transport Police

Hair type: Afro, Receding

Hair colour: Grey/black

Facial Hair: Thick Grey Beard

Eye colour (left): Brown

Eye colour (right): Brown

Case information: May have been homeless

Distinguishing features: Receding Afro

Clothing:

Green Jacket, wax oilskin ( x2 jackets found next to the deceased)
Brown Trousers, waxed oilskin
Leather Belt (Gold buckle)
White Tommy Hilfiger trainers

Jewellery: No Information Available

Body Parts: No Information Available

Bone Details: No Information Available

DNA: Unknown

Dentals: Unknown

Fingerprints: Unknown

Toxicology: Toxicology tests were conducted on the male – no drugs and very little alcohol was found

Maps:

Police Appeals

British Transport Police 09/04/2025 “Fresh appeal launched to identify man who died 25 years ago – Southend-on-Sea“

British Transport Police have launched a fresh appeal to identify a man who was found dead near Southend city centre nearly 25 years ago.

On Tuesday 14 November 2000, a man who is believed to have been homeless was seen wandering around Southend.

He was seen walking along the platform at Southend East railway station in the direction of Southand Central.

The following morning, on Wednesday 15 November, the man was found dead at around 7.30am near to Southend East railway station.

The man was known to frequent the town centre and is described as about 65 years old and 176cm tall of average build with a thick grey beard and a receding afro.

He was wearing a green jacket and brown trousers, a leather belt with a gold buckle, and a pair of white Tommy Hilfiger trainers.

Anyone who recognises the man or has information is asked to contact BTP by texting 61016 or by calling 0800 40 50 40, quoting reference 2300033045.

More information alongside a link to submit information can be found on the MIPP portal here: https://mipp.police.uk/operation/9301020124B02-PO3

DC Saunders said: “The circumstances here are truly tragic – a man dying alone with no apparent family or friends aware of their whereabouts and, after all this time, still in the dark about their death. Despite significant enquiries at the time and since, this man’s identity remains unconfirmed and their next of kin uninformed.

“We’ll be conducting further enquiries in Southend-on-Sea over the coming days so that we can give someone somewhere who has spent far too long without answers some much needed closure.”