Tributes have been paid to a 45-year-old man who was found dead at a school by a horrified 11-year-old pupil during a PE lesson.
Neil Thompson, who went by the nickname ‘Chuck’, was found injured within the grounds of of Smestow Academy in Wolverhampton yesterday.
He was pronounced dead at the scene and his death is currently being treated as unexplained by police.
His devastated family, who are being supported by specialist officers, are urging anyone with information to speak with police.
They said: ‘Our beautiful son, brother, father and friend Chuck, very much loved in the community of fishing, his one true love.
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‘His love for life and funny stories touched the lives of so many people.
‘To help us find closure as a family we urge anyone with any information or sightings to please get in touch.’
West Midlands Police said CCTV is still being reviewed and door to door enquiries being carried out.
The force said Mr Thompson was seen on Wheatsheaf Road, at 1am yesterday morning and was then sighted on the school grounds at 7.15am.
He was last seen wearing a distinctive camouflage jacket, grey gilet, jeans, and a beanie hat.
He was also carrying a red rucksack and may have been wearing sunglasses.
Supt Martin Hurcomb, from Wolverhampton Police, said: ‘Our teams are continuing to investigate the circumstances around this tragic incident and we are offering support to Mr Thompson’s family.
‘Enquiries are moving ahead as investigators work to piece together his movements and we’d ask again that anyone who may have seen Mr Thompson in the early hours of yesterday does get in touch.
‘Neighbourhood officers are also out in the area, so please do speak with them as they can offer reassurance to anyone who has concerns.”
Yesterday, the dad of the 11-year-old girl who found the body said she was left ‘really shaken up’ after making the grim discovery.
He said: ‘My daughter phoned her mom up, screaming, and told her that she found a dead body by the goal posts on the field.
‘She’s only 11 years of age. They went out for PE and it was very foggy this morning.
‘It’s left her really shaken up and we’ve come to take her out of school early. It’s terrible what she’s had to see.
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