Man pronounced dead twice after bridge fall named

Julian Bell was pronounced dead twice after falling from Kessock Bridge. Picture: TSPL

• Julian Bell, 44, was pronounced dead twice after falling from Kessock Bridge into the sea

• Mortuary staff at Raigmore Hospital said he had shown “potential signs of life” but attempts to resuscitate him failed

Separate investigations have been launched into the tragedy of Julian Bell, 44, from Inverness, who was pronounced dead on two occasions.

He had plunged over 100ft from the Kessock Bridge in the Highland capital and was declared dead at the scene.

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

The incident on Friday evening is being reviewed by NHS Highland and the Scottish Ambulance Service, as well as being investigated by the procurator fiscal.

A Police Scotland spokesman has now confirmed the victim’s identity as being Mr Bell.

A spokeswoman for the health authority said: “An individual was retrieved from the water having been witnessed to have fallen from the Kessock Bridge.

“Following resuscitation attempts he was pronounced deceased at the scene and was subsequently brought to the mortuary by an undertaker, as is normal practice.

“Upon arrival in the course of routine checks on the deceased hospital staff were concerned that there were potential signs of life.

“The Scottish Ambulance Service and an internal cardiac arrest team attended and resuscitation was immediately commenced. However, despite this evidence of ongoing signs of life could not be confirmed.”

“We are also holding our own internal significant event review as is normal practice in these circumstances. Until that is carried out we are unable to comment further.”

A spokesman for the Scottish Ambulance Service said: “We are reviewing a case involving a patient who fell from Kessock Bridge.”

A Crown Office spokesperson said: “The investigation into the death, under the direction of Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU), is ongoing and the family will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.”