Man in his 60s dies on path at popular beauty spot near to where axed Sycamore Gap tree stood
PARK TRAGEDY Man in his 60s dies on path at popular beauty spot near to where axed Sycamore Gap tree stood
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A MAN in his 60s has died after suffering a medical episode at a popular beauty spot near where the Sycamore Gap tree once stood.
The man got into difficulties on a path close to the Steel Rigg car park in Northumberland National Park on Saturday July 5.
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Emergency services scrambled to the area but despite the best efforts of paramedics, the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
A spokesperson for Northumbria Police said: "At 1pm on Saturday, July 5, we received a report via the ambulance service that a person was suffering a medical episode while on a path close to Steel Rigg car park in Northumberland.
"Emergency services attended but the person – a man in his 60s – was sadly pronounced dead a short time later.
"The man's next of kin have been informed.
"A report into the man's death has been prepared for the coroner."
Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team were one of the emergency services called to the incident.
They added: "Our thoughts and condolences go to the walker's friends and family."
The man suffered the medical episode near the same beauty spot where the iconic Sycamore Gap tree stood before it was axed.
The pair of thugs who chopped down the natural landmark are being sentenced today.
He and Adam Carruthers, 32, face years in jail at Newcastle crown court after being convicted of causing over £600,000 damage to the tree and Hadrian's Wall.
Trial judge Mrs Justice Lambert warned them after the verdict in May that they face "a lengthy period in custody".
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A year later, Joanne published a book titled No Turning Back, in which she gave her account of the traumatic events. She said in an interview with The Times: 'Others have their opinions about that night, about what happened, about what I did or didn't do. 'But they weren't there. They can never know what I saw, the terror I felt, or what Pete and I meant to each other.'' The night that Joanne escaped and we lost Peter, [Murdoch] lost control and as a result of that he felt wronged and angry. To gain some control was to never co-operate and have that power over the Falconio family. Colleen Gwynne, Lead Investigator It didn't stop the doubters. A four-part Channel 4 documentary titled Murder In The Outback: The Falconio And Lees Mystery questioned Murdoch's conviction in 2020. It repeated claims Peter may be alive. 'Future taken away' And it revealed that truck driver Vince Millar, who found Joanne by the side of the road, had seen a red car in the vicinity. 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It is possible that Murdoch bragged to a friend or cellmate — or that a former associate might have an idea where he buried the remains. The police said in a statement: 'The Northern Territory Police Force remains committed to resolving this final piece of the investigation. "We continue to appeal to anyone who may have information that could lead us to Peter Falconio's remains to come forward, no matter how small the detail may seem.' Peter is not the only person to have gone missing in the Outback. And he may not have been Murdoch's only victim. Today, though, Luciano and Joan want to forget about the killer, saying: 'We are only forced to think about him now that he's died. 'We don't want to let him ruin our lives more than he already has. 'The awful thing is, our family's future with Peter was cruelly taken away. 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