Mystery as museum worker, 52, dies after locking up

AN EMPLOYEE of Scotland's most popular museum died after being taken ill as he was leaving work having locked up for the night.

The 52-year-old man was found between the car and a wall after driving through gates at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow on Thursday night.

A colleague travelling with him was shutting the gates he had opened to let the Kia Sedona MPV through when he saw the vehicle rolling backwards and its open driver's door hit a gate pillar.

Police said it was unclear why the man got out of his car.

Officers said he had been "found injured" and denied reports he had been trapped, or pinned against the wall.

The man was taken by ambulance to the adjacent Western Infirmary, where he died shortly afterwards.

The alarm was raised around 9:15pm after the man had locked the building following a party to celebrate the opening of a new exhibition of paintings by the Glasgow Boys.

The car had been driven up an access ramp from under the building to gates at its south-east corner.

Police said the man's passenger had got out to open the gate and the car had driven through.

A spokeswoman said: "As the passenger was shutting the gates, he noticed the car rolling backwards then being stopped as the open driver's door struck a gate pillar. The 52-year-old driver was then found between his vehicle and a wall."

She said inquiries were continuing to establish the exact circumstances of the incident.

Dr Bridget McConnell, chief executive of Culture and Sport Glasgow, which runs the museum that attracted 1.3 million visitors last year, said: "We are all shocked by this tragic news. He was a much-loved and valued member of the team at Kelvingrove.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this very tragic time."