Family appeal over canal bike mystery

The family of a man who died after being found with fatal injuries on the grounds of a Wolverhampton school are appealing to find the spot where his e-bike was recovered so they have somewhere to grieve.

Neil Thompson, known as Chuck, is believed to have been hurt after coming off his e-bike while riding along the Smestow Canal path on 19 January.

He was later found with injuries on the grounds of Smestow Academy in Windmill Crescent. A coroner subsequently concluded he died from head and facial injuries of an unknown cause, police said.

The appeal was launched on Thursday, which would have been his 46th birthday, to trace whoever pulled his e-bike from the canal and left it near a bridge.

West Midlands Police said there was no further criminal investigation into Thompson's death following extensive inquiries.

The force said it appreciated the efforts of whoever recovered the bike from the water, which helped officers locate it.

Det Sgt Amie Petford said: "His family are now asking that the person who got the bike out of the water to get in touch so that they can have a place where they can go to grieve.

"The bike was rusty and appeared that someone had pulled it out of the canal and left it by a bridge at a lock so it is likely it would have been near there, but his family are hoping to know exactly where so they can lay flowers."

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