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Liverpool Echo
Liverpool Echo
World
Kate Lally

Man found dead on Tui flight and nobody knows who he is

Detectives are trying to trace the identity of a stowaway found dead in the undercarriage of an aircraft that landed at Gatwick Airport.

An e-fit was released yesterday (Friday) of the man, whose body was discovered under the jet at about 4am last December 7. The Tui flight landed from the Gambian capital of Banjul, after taking off shortly before 10pm local time.

British police are trying to trace anyone who might know him to formally identify the man, thought to be in either his 20s or 30s. It is not known if he is from Gambia or may have come from a neighbouring country in a bid to fly to the UK.

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The High Commissioner for Gambia, Interpol, and HM Coroner are all working with Sussex Police in a bid to track down his family.

Detective Inspector Darren Lillywhite, of Sussex Police, called on anyone who recognises the man to come forward to help the investigation. He said: "This was a tragic case, and we are working to establish the identity of the man found deceased.

"We have now produced an e-fit image of the young man, believed to be aged in his 20s or 30s, which we have shared with authorities in The Gambia. Somewhere, this man will have relatives or loved ones who do not know what has happened to him.

"We hope to be able to identify him for the purposes of an inquest to be held by HM Coroner, which may at least provide some answers and closure for those who knew him.

"In particular, we are seeking contact from anyone in the UK that may have been expecting to meet a friend or family member who failed to arrive in December, as well as anyone in The Gambia or neighbouring countries, who may have knowledge about an individual who made travel plans to come to the UK or Europe."

Anyone who recognises him can contact Sussex Police online, quoting serial 101 of 07/12, or contact a local police force or Interpol.

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