Inverness bridge man ‘was not alive at mortuary’

A PROBE has dismissed claims a man had shown signs of life after being taken to a hospital mortuary following a fall from a bridge.

The Kessock Bridge, Inverness. Picture: Contributed

Julian Bell, 44, from Inverness, plunged over 100ft from the Kessock Bridge in the Highland capital on 7 July and was declared dead at the scene.

However, staff at Raigmore Hospital’s mortuary said he showed “potential signs of life” and a second attempt to resuscitate him was made, without success.

However, an internal investigation has concluded that he could not have survived the fall, despite some staff believing in good faith that he may have still been alive.

A joint statement from NHS Highland and Scottish Ambulance Service said:

“Raigmore Hospital along with the Scottish Ambulance Service have conducted a thorough investigation of this event. This identified no deficiencies in care of the deceased at any time during this episode.”