Appeal after man dies from head injuries

The 68-year-old man, from Threshfield, was found with serious head injuries at the 
bottom of some steps in a Skipton car park at 6.45pm on Thursday.

He was taken to Airedale Hospital where he died later in the evening.

Police have said that at this stage his death remains unexplained.

Officers cordoned off the area to allow a full examination of the scene.

An investigation is underway to establish how the man came to sustain his head injuries.

Officers have established that the man travelled on the number 72 bus from Threshfield to Skipton where he got off the bus at around 6.25pm at the main bus station.

He then crossed the foot bridge which leads to Gas Street, said police.

He was found with head injuries at the bottom of the steps in Gas Street car park.

Police are appealing for anyone with any information to contact them.

They particularly want to hear from a man who stopped at the scene to help.

Detective Sergeant Alan Browne, of Skipton CID, said: “At the moment the man’s death remains unexplained and to assist our enquiries we are looking for anyone who saw the man prior to the incident including bus passengers on the number 72 bus and anyone who saw him walking from the bus station over the bridge towards Gas Street. We would particularly like to speak to a man, who we believe was jogging in the area and stopped at the scene to help. If you are the person who stopped we urge you to contact the police as soon as possible.”

The dead man is described as white, 5ft 7in tall with grey hair which was balding on top. He wore spectacles, a blue wax Barbour-style jacket, blue jeans and brown shoes.

Anyone with any information, including bus passengers and the man who stopped at the scene, is asked to contact North Yorkshire Police on 101, select option 2 and ask for Skipton CID.