Pensioner Found Dead Under Car As Blizzards Hit UK

SWNS

The body of a 75-year-old woman has been found, lying partially underneath a parked car in Leeds.

Police officers were called to the location on Well Street, Farsley shortly after 6.10am today.

A police tent was erected in the thick snow while the blizzard like conditions continued to batter the city.

A cordon was also put into place outside the East Court flats.

Police have reported how there’s no suggestion of this being a suspicious death and the woman in question has been identified but not yet publicly named.

Leeds District CID Detective Inspector James Entwistle said:

We’re currently carrying out enquiries into the circumstances but at this stage there’s nothing to suggest her death is suspicious.

We’ve established the woman’s identity and are in contact with her family.

We’d like to hear from anyone who saw her in the area at any time prior to her being found this morning. She may have appeared confused.

The woman’s body was discovered by a commuter who’d been making their way to work.

The incident occurred in the wake of severe weather warnings throughout the UK, dubbed ‘The Beast From The East.’

Temperatures in Farsley fell to -6c overnight.

Age UK have offered the following comment on the cold weather alerts issued by the Met Office:

There’s a high probability of severe cold weather, icy conditions and heavy snow in parts of England until Saturday March 3.

Exposure to the cold can have a devastating impact on older people, who are particularly vulnerable to the impact of low temperatures.

As people get older it takes longer to warm up which can be bad for health. Breathing in cold air lowers the body temperature, and raises the risk of chest infections, heart attacks and strokes.

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Age UK continued:

It’s important to keep warm and well in winter. As we get older, it takes longer for us to warm up which can be bad for our health.

The cold thickens our blood and increases blood pressure and breathing in cold air can increase the risk of chest infections.

The ideal temperature is 64°F (18°C) for your bedroom and 70°F (21°C) for your living room. Check your thermostat or use a room thermometer to monitor temperature and keep your bedroom window shut on a winter’s night.

If there’s anyone you know who might be at risk, make sure they know what to do.

The Met Office tweeted:

Do not make unnecessary journeys in the red warning area.

Even if you’re in the Amber or Yellow areas, consider if your journey is necessary and take provisions in case you get stranded.

Take care and stay #weatheraware.

Those with any information about this incident are asked to make contact with Leeds District CID via 101, quoting log number 191.

Our thoughts are with this woman’s family and friends.

Julia Banim

Jules studied English Literature with Creative Writing at Lancaster University before earning her masters in International Relations at Leiden University in The Netherlands (Hoi!). She then trained as a journalist through News Associates in Manchester. Jules has previously worked as a mental health blogger, copywriter and freelancer for various publications.