A homeless man who died in freezing temperatures just yards from the entrance to Parliament was a former model from Portugal, according to a charity.
The man in his 40s, who has not yet been officially named, was a regular at an emergency shelter run by central London homelessness charity The Connection.
Staff there said they had been helping him try to find a job and he had submitted an application form last week – hoping to become a waiter. They added that although he had ‘complex circumstances’, he enjoyed singing and regularly attended yoga classes.
A spokesperson for the charity said they were ‘deeply saddened’ by his death on Wednesday morning.
‘He had worked previously as a model and in various hospitality jobs,’ they added.
‘He put in a job application to be a waiter as recently as last week. Although he had complex circumstances, he enjoyed singing and regularly attended yoga classes.’
Pam Orchard, the charity’s chief executive, said: ‘These tragic deaths are not just statistics. Everyone who is homeless is someone’s son or brother or dad.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn sent flowers and a card reading ‘This should never have happened. As a country we must stop walking by. Rest in peace’ to the scene of the man’s death
‘He had strengths, talents and skills but he also had problems and things went very wrong for him. The support shown by the wider public for him and his situation has been very moving.’
The man was discovered in Westminster underground station by the back entrance to the Palace of Westminster, which politicians and their staff walk through every day.
Temperatures plunged to -2.1C in the areas last night, and many homeless people use the station to get shelter from the freezing temperatures outside.
Politicians said they were horrified at the news of the tragedy, and said it should serve as a wake-up call to do more to combat the rising numbers of rough sleepers.
Members of Jeremy Corbyn’s office said they knew the man and laid flowers at the scene last night.
Mr Corbyn left a note on a bouquet reading ‘This should never have happened. As a country we must stop walking by. Rest in peace’.
Members of Jeremy Corbyn’s office said they knew the man – who has not been named – and are laid flowers at the scene last night
The man was discovered in Westminster underground station by the back entrance (pictured) to the Palace of Westminster, which politicians and their staff walk through every day
The Labour leader wrote on Twitter: ‘I’ve just been told about the death of a rough sleeper right by the entrance to Parliament.
‘The powerful can’t carry on walking by on the other side while people don’t have a home to call their own.
‘It’s time all MPs took up this moral challenge and properly housed everyone.’
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner wrote: ‘A homeless man who was seen frequently at the tube entrance to Portcullis House Westminster underground station has been found dead today.
‘Whatever the circumstances it’s a terrible tragedy that somebody ends their days like this, the govt must do more to combat homelessness.’
Scotland Yard said the death is being treated as unexplained, but not suspicious.
A spokesman for the Ambulance Service said: ‘We were called at 7.16am yesterday to Westminster Tube station, to reports of a man not breathing.
‘We sent a team leader, an advanced paramedic, a cycle responder and two ambulance crews.
‘Sadly, despite resuscitation efforts, he died at the scene.’
Members of the Labour Leader’s office said they would take the man hot food in the morning
Shadow education secretary Angela Rayner also tweeted her shock at the tragedy
Tory MP Grant Shapps said the death was ‘horrendous news’, adding: ‘Homelessness is an issue that requires constant attention.
‘Reducing rough sleeping is the mark of a civilised society and we must now get to grips with the issue.’
A House of Commons spokesman said: ‘We are saddened to hear of the death of an individual this morning at Westminster Tube Station and offer our condolences to their friends and family at this difficult time.’
A homeless man was found dead on Parliament’s doorstep yesterday morning – prompting MPs to call for tougher action to tackle rough sleeping