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Death farm tenant 'was bankrupt' | Death farm tenant 'was bankrupt' |
(about 1 hour later) | |
The tenant of a farm where a man died in a chemical incident that left emergency workers injured was facing eviction, officials have confirmed. | The tenant of a farm where a man died in a chemical incident that left emergency workers injured was facing eviction, officials have confirmed. |
Tenant Bob Dearnley was made bankrupt in 2006, council officials said. | Tenant Bob Dearnley was made bankrupt in 2006, council officials said. |
Seven police officers and three ambulance staff were taken to hospital after a noxious substance was released at the Surrey farm in the early hours. | |
The man, aged in his 50s, who died at Burpham Court Farm, Guildford, has not not yet been identified by police. | The man, aged in his 50s, who died at Burpham Court Farm, Guildford, has not not yet been identified by police. |
The substance used in the incident is believed to have been rat poison. | The substance used in the incident is believed to have been rat poison. |
Police, who were called to the scene at about 0100 BST, are not treating the death as suspicious. | |
Paramedics tried to resuscitate the man but he was pronounced dead at the farm. | |
As the tenants hadn't left the farm on the stated date the council started possession proceedings Guildford Borough Council | |
Mr Dearnley was declared bankrupt in 2006 after losing a lengthy court battle with the National Trust over its management of the River Wey Navigation. | |
His bankruptcy trustees gave notice that he would leave the multimillion-pound property in September 2008, but he failed to do so. | |
Landlord, Guildford Borough Council, said it had then started possession proceedings. | Landlord, Guildford Borough Council, said it had then started possession proceedings. |
Surrey Police said Mr Dearnley was arrested on suspicion of affray on Monday but was not charged. | Surrey Police said Mr Dearnley was arrested on suspicion of affray on Monday but was not charged. |
Earlier, a helicopter was scrambled over the scene as police investigations continued. | Earlier, a helicopter was scrambled over the scene as police investigations continued. |
The injured emergency staff were taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital as a precaution following the incident and discharged later. | |
The three ambulance crew members - a paramedic, technician and emergency care support worker who tried to resuscitate the man - underwent decontamination procedures. | The three ambulance crew members - a paramedic, technician and emergency care support worker who tried to resuscitate the man - underwent decontamination procedures. |
Burpham Court, a former dairy farm, is understood to have been transformed into a conservation centre and tourist attraction in the early 1990s. | |
Parts of the 76-acre site, which has the River Wey at its heart and boasts a variety of rare breeds of animals and wildlife, date back to the 1600s. | |
A spokeswoman for Guildford council said: "We were sorry to hear the sad news of the death at Burpham Court Farm. | |
"Following a series of unsuccessful litigations against his principal creditor the National Trust and Guildford Borough Council, Burpham Court Farm tenant Mr Dearnley was declared bankrupt in 2006. | |
"As the tenants hadn't left the farm on the stated date the council started possession proceedings." | |
A National Trust spokeswoman said it had given Mr Dearnley a number of opportunities to reach a settlement of the case, but he declined. | |
After losing the case, he tried to appeal but was refused permission. The National Trust then took legal proceedings to recover its costs, the spokeswoman said. | |
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Police and fire crews remained at the farm carrying out investigations | Police and fire crews remained at the farm carrying out investigations |
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