Family appeal for phone and wallet stolen while man lay dead at Burntisland station

A man who lay dying on the tracks of a Fife station was robbed of his belongings, which he had placed on a bench only moments before his death.

Ross Elrick's phone and wallet were taken just moments after his death.

The brother of Ross Elrick today called for his phone and wallet to be handed into the police, as he paid tribute to “the most kind hearted person I’ve ever known”.

Ross,31, died at Burntisland station on the evening of Sunday, January 24, when he was hit by a train.

Philip Elrick, 30, said officers from British Transport Police told him his brother had laid down his belongings, thought to be his phone and wallet, on a bench at the station shortly before he died.

However, CCTV is understood to have captured someone taking the items in the moments after Ross’s death.

Philip today appealed for whoever took his brother’s belongings to hand them in.

The family are keen to retrieve any personal messages and photographs on the phone.

Philip said: "I was shocked and angered by it because we just want them back.

"There’s the sentimentality side of it. He would have had pictures on his phone probably of the family and of our child.

"He was one of a kind. A gentleman. He had the biggest heart of anyone I've ever met.

"He would always be looking out for others over himself. Just the most generous, thoughtful, selfless, kind hearted person I’ve ever known.

Philip called for the stolen items to be handed in to police, in order to give his family some kind of peace.

A spokesperson for British Transport Police said: “We are investigating an incident of theft at Burntisland station on Sunday evening, January 24.

“Enquiries into this are ongoing.”

A funeral service for Ross will be held at Kirkcaldy Crematorium on Friday, February 12, and will be private due to the current restrictions.

If anyone wishes to pay their respects, the cortege will pass Burntisland High Street shortly after 4pm.