Man hangs himself from a tree

There was a tragic start to this morning when the body of a man was found hanging from a tree in a field on upper Victoria Street.

The man, who was not named by police, had used wire to hang himself from a tree during the early hours of the morning. It appears as if he had stood on a bucket which he then kicked from under himself.

He was a resident of extension 18 and had just been retrenched from work. His grieving wife, who was standing near the cordoned off area, had to be comforted by relatives and friends.  Police are on the scene and are waiting for the forensics unit from Newcastle.

The Courier expresses condolences to the family.