The body of a man, found in 1996. A number of books that could say a lot about who he was. A photo that could say even more.
Clifton Suspension Bridge Man
Passport sized photo found amongst his possessions
On Sunday, May 19th 1996, the body of a man was found on the bank of the River Avon in Somerset. He is believed to have fallen from the nearby Clifton Suspension Bridge.
He was white, of medium build, thought to be aged between 25 and 35 years old, and approximately 6ft (185cm) tall, with blue eyes and light brown hair.
The man was found with a few distinctive items:
A suspected old student card featuring a passport-sized photograph of himself as a fresh faced, younger man with lighter hair. All other information on the card had been scratched off
A cardboard sign with a handwritten message saying ‘Sleeping rough, thank you’
A red penny whistle
A copy of Thomas More’s ‘Utopia’, a satire dating to the early 16th Century – it was missing an outer cover and had the words ‘West Glamorgan County Council’ on the first page
A well-thumbed copy of the Holy Bible
A paperback copy of Hunter S Thompson’s Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
A paperback copy of ‘The Greatest Batman Stories’
A Great Britain A-Z map, Eurohike Adventurer Sleeping Bag and London Shopper Guide
Silk Cut cigarettes and a blank Barclays giro slip
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Questions you can ask yourself:
We’re confident that after all these years later, Clifton Suspension Bridge Man’s identity can be found thanks to just one person with one piece of information.
You may have family, friends or neighbours who might be able to recall meeting or seeing him in the 1990s. If you could share our appeal with them or talk to them about this case, it may jog someone’s memory. The smallest piece of information could solve this case.
Had you ever seen him busking in the Bristol area or anywhere else in the UK?
We understand he spent time in the St Pauls area of Bristol - do you recognise him from there?
Did you ever seen him in a hostel or shelter?
Did you ever share a cigarette with him?
Did you give him any of these books, or know where he may have picked them up?
Did you encounter anyone reading these books, or the sort of person who might have read them?
Did you live in the Bristol area at this time, or do you have friends or family who did? Could you share this appeal with them?
Have you lost touch with someone who matches his description?
Cast your mind back to that weekend in May, 1996….
Maybe these events will help jog your memory:
He was discovered on a Sunday. The Monaco Grand Prix was on TV that afternoon – Olivier Panis won his only ever race.
The weekend before, Man United had beaten Liverpool 1-0 in the FA Cup final, Eric Cantona scoring the only goal.
Also on TV the night before was the Eurovision Song Contest, won by Eimear Quinn from Ireland with her song The Voice.
The international festival of the sea was to be held the following weekend in Bristol.
There is always hope, and you could be the person that makes the difference.
No matter how seemingly small the information you have, it really may be the answer we need. Information provided can be submitted anonymously, and submissions will be treated in confidence. Everything we receive will be reviewed by our dedicated team of volunteers. Please do not use this form for emergency assistance in locating a person. Please call 999.