Police are trying to identify the man found on the South End Close estate

A MAN has died after sleeping rough in a bin shed while it was -5 degrees outside.

Neighbours on the South End Close estate in Hampstead had become aware of a man staying in one of the bin sheds over the past couple of weeks when temperatures plummeted below zero.

On Saturday morning, one neighbour checked on him to find that he was “frozen” and unresponsive.

He was treated at the scene by paramedics and then rushed to ­hospital, where he died later.

Iola Tartan, who lives opposite the bin shed, said: “It was really cold that night and then he was, I don’t know what the situation is, but he was left outside. My mum saw him a few days ago and she made him a cup of tea, and she was going to take him some food, but he was asleep so she couldn’t give it to him.

The New Journal’s front page on January 16, 2025

“She told me that she felt really, really bad. She was going to go and ask what’s going on. I got really upset seeing the ambulance there. It wasn’t nice seeing that.”

Marjan Brazier said: “My husband went out Saturday morning and saw ambulance staff doing CPR on the man. His belongings – hardly anything – were still there on Sunday night, and a bunch of white roses had been left. When I went to work this afternoon everything was tidied up. I spoke to the caretaker who cleared everything away and he was visibly upset when I told him what happened.”

Police have not been able to identify the man so far.

The Severe Emergency Weather Protocol (SWEP) was in place for most of last week, meaning that everyone out on the streets should be offered emergency accommodation.

SEE ALSO COUNCILLOR WAS ABSENT FROM TOWN HALL AFTER GOING ‘INTO HIDING’ IN BANGLADESH

Ms Brazier said she and another neighbour had reported the man to the Camden Street Safe app. Residents had heard that Camden visited the man but he refused help. She added: “I did not receive any reply from Camden, although I did request it, and gave them my email.”

Elodie Berland of Streets Kitchen said there are “very valid reasons” why some rough sleepers refuse accommodation offers.

She said: “There’s a few people saying they have been offered accommodation through SWEP. One guy, it was really heartbreaking, said ‘I’m in but I can’t go. There’s so many people there. There’s so much drug taking. I just can’t. I need to get out. It’s not good for my mental health. Someone was given a hostel that was miles away. There are a few people who refuse and they have very valid reasons.”

Jim Watts, vice chair of the South End Close Residents Association, said he was not aware of someone sleeping in the bin shed until he saw the emergency services.

He added: “There were no clues to his identity whatsoever. There was a police presence on site until about 11 o’clock at night.”

Police said they are working to identify him and trace his next of kin.

A spokesperson added: “The death is being treated as unexpected but not suspicious.”

Adam Hashim, from Streets Sustenance, said: “Shelters often become overwhelmed with individuals facing challenges such as addictions, mental health struggles, and other complex needs.

“Some people feel safer in isolation. People may choose to stay in places they’ve become accustomed to, even if they are unhygienic because these environments feel predictable and within their control.”

A Camden Council spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of this person’s death. Our condolences are with all who knew them. The identity of the person has yet to be confirmed, however if it is the person we believe it to be, we worked with our partners to provide support including an offer of accommodation, emergency supplies and advice.

“The housing crisis has hit London the hardest and we are seeing high numbers of homelessness and people sleeping rough. It’s deeply concerning that members of our community have to live on the streets.

“However we are doing all we can to address this, including investing more than £26million into our rough sleeping support and wider homelessness services, building hundreds of new social homes and larger family homes, building more hostels and buying back homes for local people.”

They said 54 people had been assisted off the street during the days the cold weather protocol was in place.

WATCH OUR ONLINE POLITICS CHANNEL, PEEPS, ON YOUTUBE