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Family found dead at Beachy Head were from Trowbridge area

9:32am Tuesday 2nd June 2009


A MAN, woman and young boy whose bodies were found at the foot of Beachy Head in East Sussex on Sunday evening were a family from near Trowbridge, the Wiltshire Times understands.

The body of the five-year-old boy was found inside a rucksack along with a second rucksack filled with toys, including a tractor and soft toys.

It is believed the young boy was already dead at the time his parents leapt from the clifftop at the popular beauty spot.

The identities of the three people have not yet been confirmed, but they are thought to have lived on a farm near Trowbridge. It is thought the family drove the 100 miles from the county to Eastbourne as part of a suicide pact.

The bodies, which were found on a ledge 400ft down, were brought to the summit of the South Downs beauty spot and taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital for a post mortem examination.

A silver Volkswagen camper van was recovered from a roadside car park about 200 yards from the cliff edge and taken to Eastbourne for forensic examination.

Sussex Police sad the deaths were not being treated as suspicious but said they were ‘keeping an open mind until the full facts have been established’

This morning Chief Insp Dick Coates said police knew the identities of the family, but had not yet talked to their next of kin.

"Later today we will be able to clarify the circumstances fully," he said.

"But I need to do what is right with the relatives first."


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maddison, trowbridge says...
9:39am Tue 2 Jun 09

if what I read on teletext this morning is true, this is a very sad story.
Parents not beng able to cope with the death of thier son.
committe suicdial

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Vox Pop, Trowbridge says...
10:45am Tue 2 Jun 09

This is truly one of the saddest stories I have seen on the WT website. If the initial reports are true the little boy died from some disease or abnormality and the parents felt unable to cope and committed suicide, taking the lad and his sack of toys with them. However much Social Services and other agencies must have failed them these people are worthy of our sympathy: unlike teenage youths who now seem to feature weekly in the WT for killing themselves (and putting other road users in danger) through reckless driving.

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Hubnut2002, Salisbury says...
10:49am Tue 2 Jun 09

Such a tragic waste of life. I can't even begin to imagine how they must have been feeling to have felt the need to end their time on this earth. If Teletext is to be believed, then all I can imagine is grief can be a very strong emotion that can lead many to extreme actions.
I hope, as a family they are at peace together.
I'd also like to wish any family left behind the strength and courage to make it through this tragic time.

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tethered, warminster says...
10:57am Tue 2 Jun 09

Sky news has just said they believe the child had died of an illness.These poor parents must of felt they could not live without their precious child.I hope you are at peace together which is how you wanted it to be.To the others left behind this precious child has his mummy and daddy up there with him which is how they wanted it to be.His parents must of been so brave to the end be proud that they sacrificed their lives to be with him up there.

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Hubnut2002, Salisbury says...
10:59am Tue 2 Jun 09

Vox Pop"unlike teenage youths who now seem to feature weekly in the WT for killing themselves (and putting other road users in danger) through reckless driving."
Bit harsh considering the current story of a much loved guy.. nobody has said the was being reckless or careless.

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westmum, westbury says...
12:06pm Tue 2 Jun 09

my child went to the same school as this child they were such a lovely family, such a shock to us all, the parents obviously couldnt live without their child,and now they are all together again.. rest together in peace

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Vox Pop, Trowbridge says...
9:39am Wed 3 Jun 09

In response to my previous comment regarding the actions of reckless drivers, ‘Hubnut2002‘ describes my words as ‘a bit harsh’ and then alludes to another WT story to which I made no specific reference. Well that contributor is of course perfectly entitled to his opinion. But, far from being harsh, my comment was indeed too mild, and here is why: as a passenger in his mother’s car little Sam Puttick had his life ruined by the reckless actions of another driver who was entirely to blame for the crash which left him a tetraplegic, at just 18 months old. The consequences of those injuries led to his death last Friday and also ruined the lives of his parents, and that led subsequently to the tragic event near Eastbourne last weekend. So I stand by every word I wrote regarding the irresponsible behaviour of dangerous drivers: no apology, no regrets, and no sympathy.

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tethered, warminster says...
9:49am Wed 3 Jun 09

Good for you vox pop you are so right.That poor little angel suffering those terrible injuries at such a young age is heartbreaking.His parents obviously did no much for that precious child.This is about this child and his parents,not the wreckless drivers who go round harming innocent people.Have some respect for what this story should be focussed on which is such a tragic loss of lives in a terrible set of circumstances.

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Hubnut2002, Westbury says...
1:51pm Wed 3 Jun 09

Vox Pop wrote:
In response to my previous comment regarding the actions of reckless drivers, ‘Hubnut2002‘ describes my words as ‘a bit harsh’ and then alludes to another WT story to which I made no specific reference. Well that contributor is of course perfectly entitled to his opinion. But, far from being harsh, my comment was indeed too mild, and here is why: as a passenger in his mother’s car little Sam Puttick had his life ruined by the reckless actions of another driver who was entirely to blame for the crash which left him a tetraplegic, at just 18 months old. The consequences of those injuries led to his death last Friday and also ruined the lives of his parents, and that led subsequently to the tragic event near Eastbourne last weekend. So I stand by every word I wrote regarding the irresponsible behaviour of dangerous drivers: no apology, no regrets, and no sympathy.
Yes, I see your point. But you have changed your stance, where as you mentioned only teenage drivers being reckless in your initial post, now you have gone to all irresponsible drivers.
So I ask you this, would you stand in front of the mother of Sam Young and say you have no sympathy for her loss? I feel not!
I do however,recognise this story is a very sad and tragic end to a deeply distressing trail of events and have extended my wishes to family and friends of the Puttick family.

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Family found dead at Beachy Head were from Trowvbridge area Family found dead at Beachy Head were from Trowvbridge area


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