A 57-year-old father in the UK died from severe blood loss after accidentally falling asleep on a knife inside his backpack while sitting on a bench beside a river, according to police findings.
Tragic Accident Initially Misidentified as Homicide
Robert Brown was found last summer by a passing cyclist who noticed blood dripping from the bench. Authorities responded immediately and launched an extensive investigation. Initially, the case was treated as a potential homicide, leading to the arrest of three individuals — all of whom were later released without charge.
Investigation Reveals Unlikely Chain of Events
The inquiry ultimately concluded that Brown’s death resulted from a highly improbable accident. According to the official report, he appeared to have been intoxicated, fell asleep on the bench, and collapsed onto his own backpack — which contained a 13-centimetre blade. The knife pierced through the bag and three layers of his coat, causing a deep wound to his hand.
Although no major artery was severed, the injury led to massive blood loss and proved fatal. Investigators found no evidence of third-party involvement, and the knife was confirmed to belong to Brown. The coroner ruled the death a ‘tragic accident’.