Body of man found in garden by teenage girl may have frozen to death

A MAN may have frozen to death in a Penicuik garden after his body was discovered lying in the snow.

The horrific find was made by a teenage girl in the town’s Strathesk Place yesterday afternoon.

It’s believed his body may have lain undiscovered from the previous night when temperatures were below freezing.

Horrified neighbours today told of their shock after the body of a man – believed to be between 25 and 35 years old – was found “frozen stiff” in the private garden.

The body was discovered by a teenage girl who lives in the property as she tidied the garden. He is understood not to live at the address. Neighbour Kay Taylor said she saw the body after being called to the scene by stunned friend Cathie Craig and her daughter Kelsey, 13, who Ms Taylor said made the discovery

Ms Taylor, 54, said the man was lying on his back between a conservatory and fence with one leg bent and a hand in one of his pockets.

She said: “It was the body of a young man, maybe in his late 20s to mid-30s. “

She added: “The moment I saw him I knew he was dead – he was frozen stiff.

“It looked to me like he had been there since Tuesday night – like he had fallen asleep in the snow after being out and died of the cold.

“It seemed he had settled down to sleep. He was wearing denims and a cagoule-type black jacket – but it was lightweight, certainly not a winter jacket you would put on to go out in this weather.

“I felt sick when I saw it – physically sick.”

Ms Taylor said Ms Craig and her daughter had been left “distraught” by the horror discovery.

She said: “Kelsey discovered the body when she was out cleaning up after the dog to earn a bit of extra pocket money.

“Cathie is extra upset and worried, and Kelsey is just worried about her mum.

“I am Penicuik-born and bred, and it’s unbelievable this has happened on our doorstep. Now some poor family are going to be in grief.”

Another neighbour – Michelle Jones, 42 – described the discovery as “tragic” and “unsettling”.

Lothian and Borders Police said an investigation into the cause of the man’s death was continuing.

A spokeswoman said: “Inquiries are at an early stage to establish the circumstances leading to the man’s death and he has not yet been identified.”