Man’s body found in school grounds by children ‘getting ready to do PE’

An 11-year-old girl was left ‘really shaken up’ after she discovered the body of a man during a PE lesson at a school.

The pupil spotted the body when she made her way onto the playing fields at Smestow Academy in Wolverhampton at around 10am today.

It is understood that her year seven class were the first to have the subject this week, and no pupils had been on the field prior to the start of the lesson.

Terry Willington, the father of the girl, told the Express & Star: ‘My daughter phoned her mum up, screaming, and told her that she found a dead body by the goal posts on the field.

‘She’s only 11 years of age. They went out for PE and it was very foggy this morning.

‘It’s left her really shaken up and we’ve come to take her out of school early. It’s terrible what she’s had to see.’

After the discovery at around 10.40am today, all pupils were sent home and a police investigation was launched.

Officers were spotted in the school’s football field, placing police tape around one of the goal posts.

A reporter on the scene said only one officer is near the cordon, and teachers are beginning to make their way home as officers take their statements.

The man’s body was found near Smestow Nature Reserve, which backs up to the school field. A video taken on the scene shows some minor flooding.

A mum said she saw the police cordon as she was walking with her son, and saw teachers radioing about the situation.

She said: ‘I asked if he was alright and they said they were unsure. Another teacher came to see if he was alive. It was quite clear that he wasn’t.

‘When I got there, it looked as if he’d just been found. It’s a really scenic spot, it’s not what you’d expect.’

One parent commented on Facebook: ‘My nephew’s class were the ones that found him. The school have offered counselling. Rest In Peace.’

A nearby Smestow Nature Reserve trail, which leads into the school’s open field, remains open.

Teachers were out in the Castlecroft neighbourhood to help families deal with the sudden surge of pupils this afternoon.

The force is now working to confirm the man’s identity and the circumstances around his death.

Smestow Academy said in a statement: ‘Police told us to close school today because of an incident unconnected with Smestow Academy.

‘A body was found at the edge of the grounds and enquiries are now underway to confirm the man’s identity and the circumstances around his death.

‘Police asked us to close so they could make headway with their investigation.

‘The police have now given us the go ahead to open as usual tomorrow.

‘There will be pupil assemblies throughout the morning to reassure them.

‘If your child has been affected, they can speak with their Head of House who will be able to provide specialist support.’

The ambulance service said: ‘We were called to a medical emergency in a field on Windmill Crescent, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton at 10.41am today.

‘Two ambulances and a paramedic officer responded to the scene where, sadly, one man was confirmed deceased.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.