Artist died 'handcuffed to tree'

"His skeleton was found by a woman who had become lost while walking her dog.

"He could have been there for a few days. If you handcuff yourself to a tree you would die fairly quickly but maybe not as quickly as you would like." -Home Office pathologist Brian Rogers

The handcuffs attached to one arm indicated that Mr Sumner had attached himself to the tree and thrown the key to a point where he could not retrieve it, north east Wales coroner John Hughes was told.

However, Home Office pathologist Brian Rogers said the position of the handcuffs and marks found on the tree indicated that Mr Sumner had probably changed his mind, but could not reach the key.

'It's possible he took an overdose of tablets. It's possible he took poison. Clearly he had handcuffed himself to the tree and he had thrown away the key.'" (more)

BBC NEWS | UK | Wales | Artist died 'handcuffed to tree'