A father with a “heart of gold” died from blood loss on a bench by a river, after he accidentally fell asleep on a knife that was in his backpack, according to a police investigation in Britain.

Robert Brown, 57, a father and grandfather described by his family as a man with a “heart of gold,” lost his life in an unbelievable accident when he fell asleep on a knife that was in his backpack.

The man was found dead on a bench next to a path along the canal in Northampton, England, last summer. A passing cyclist was the one who found him after noticing blood seeping through the gaps in the seat.

The discovery was made at 6:30 a.m. on August 1 and prompted a major mobilization by authorities, as there were initial suspicions that it was a murder. Police launched a search of the Nene River and arrested three individuals on suspicion of murder, but all were subsequently released without charges being filed.

During the ensuing investigation, it was revealed that Brown’s death was most likely caused by a tragic accident. According to the evidence, while he was intoxicated, he reportedly fell asleep on the bench and collapsed onto his backpack, inside which the knife was located.

The 13-centimeter blade pierced through the bag and the three layers of his coat, causing a wound to his hand. Although no artery was severed, he suffered significant blood loss from the wound, which resulted in his death.

The police investigation was completed last February, with officers concluding that the injury “was most likely caused unintentionally by the victim himself.” Northamptonshire’s chief medical examiner, Ann Pepper, described the case as a “tragic accident.”

The findings from the knife supported the authorities’ conclusion, as no blood was found on the blade, but fibers from his coat and traces of DNA matching Brown himself were found.

His family bid him farewell with heartfelt words, describing him as a man full of humor, love, and a willingness to help others. “He was a unique personality and always full of joy. He was the Peter Pan of our real life—the boy who never grew up,” his relatives said.

His son Daniel, his daughter Tonya, and his grandchildren said that their memories of him will stay with them, while his partner, Julia, described him as a selfless man who always put others before himself.

The medical examiner ultimately ruled the cause of death as accidental.

Source: Proto Thema