Britain’s weather death toll has risen to nine after it emerged the body of a homeless man was found in tent near a church and a 75-year-old woman froze to death under a car.
The rough sleeper, known locally as Ben, was found next to St Swithun’s Church in Retford, Nottinghamshire.
It came as a man in his 60s died after falling through a frozen lake as he tried to rescue his dog in Welling south east London on Wednesday.
And another motorist died on the UK’s frozen roads today after his van collided with a lorry on the A34 in Hampshire.
On Tuesday in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire four people died in two separate road accidents.
The woman’s body was found lying underneath this car in the Farlsey area of Leeds this morning. A blue police tent was erected over her body.
Shocked locals said the homeless man was a ‘lovely, friendly chap.’
Scout leader Hazel Newstead told Lincolnshire Live: ‘We’re so shocked and saddened by this. He seemed a lovely, friendly chap.
‘He was living in a tent between a wall and the old church hall near our scout hut.
‘He told us he was 53 and used to be a brickie – he even offered to re-do the brickwork on our building.
‘We used to chat to Ben over the wall. He was happy here.
She added: ‘He had a tent, sleeping bags and quilts, and we gave him tinned food because he said he had something to cook with. He used to hang his sleeping bags between the trees to air them.’
Police have confirmed the sudden death near St Swithun’s Church on Tuesday at 8.40am.
An elderly elderly woman was found dead in the snow on a street in Farsley, near Leeds, West Yorks.
It comes a day after a man in his 60s died after having apparently fallen through ice over a frozen lake in Welling, south east London as he tried to rescue his dog.
On Tuesday in Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire four people died in two separate road accidents.
At 7.18am this morning officers were called to reports of a collision involving a lorry and a van, on the southbound carriageway of the A34.
The driver of the van, a 46-year-old from Southampton, Hants, died. His front seat passenger was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford. His condition is described as ‘life-changing’.
The lorry driver was uninjured in the accident on the border with Berkshire, two miles north of Tothill Services.
It came after a 75-year-old woman was discovered by a passer-by underneath a parked car near her home in -6C (21F) temperatures.
It is not known how long the elderly woman had been laid there unnoticed, but police said there is nothing to suggest her death is suspicious.
It is understood the woman, believed to have been confused shortly before her death, lived close to where she was discovered in Farsley, near Leeds, West Yorks.
She is said to have been found by a commuter on their way to work.
Police are now appealing for witnesses who could have seen the woman in the early hours.
The elderly woman, 75, was discovered lying in the snow by a commuter on her way to work in blizzard conditions
Officers were at the scene this morning where a tent was put up in the thick snow as blizzard conditions swept in.
A cordon outside the block of flats in Well Street was put in place.
Detective Inspector James Entwistle, said: ‘We are currently carrying out enquiries into the circumstances but at this stage there is nothing to suggest her death is suspicious.
A police officer at the scene outside the block of flats near to where the woman’s body was discovered
‘We have established the woman’s identity and are in contact with her family.
‘We would 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.’
On Wednesday a man had to be pulled from a frozen lake having apparently fallen through the ice as he tried to save his stranded dog.
It emerged today a heroic passer-by stepped in after seeing him go into the water.
Witnesses saw the victim’s dog jump over railings surrounding the lake and into the water, and he gave chase.
Emergency services were called to Danson Lake in Danson Park, Welling, South East London yesterday as temperatures plummeted to -2C
But the owner slipped and ell on the ice, banging his head and then fell into the freezing water.
A passer-by is said to have raised the alarm and pulled the man from the lake, according to the London fire Brigade.
Emergency services arrived moments later at Danson Lake in Danson Park, Welling on Wednesday.
An air ambulance was also called to the scene on Wednesday afternoon at 3.55pm. The victim, who has not yet been named, was taken to hospital but was later pronounced dead.
One local resident, who asked not to be named, said: ‘There were so many ambulances.
A Met Police spokesman said: ‘Police were called by the London Ambulance Service at approximately 3.55pm on Wednesday to reports of a man in the water at Danson Park in Welling’
‘Then we saw other emergency vehicles arriving, at least five or six fire engines and five first responders enter the park.
‘The police arrived very quickly, they rushed to the incident. What I heard from my brother is that the dog went over the railings into the lake and the man tried to get to it, fell and hit his head on the ice.
‘When he did that he lost consciousness and went into the water. I think he must have gone into cardiac arrest, they said when they pulled him out he was blue.
‘They were doing a lot of CPR on him.’
The victim’s family laid flowers at the scene today but were too upset to talk.
Tearful relatives visited the lake in Danson Park, Welling this afternoon. One tribute left at the scene said: ‘Words cannot express how sad we all are and how proud we are of all you have done. Miss you and love you.’
The dog was rescued by boat the London Fire Brigade said.