A family man who died after falling down an escalator at London Waterloo was ‘not pushed’ but passed away in ‘a very sad and unfortunate accident’, police have revealed.
Ian Airlie was found dead at his home in Greenwich, south-east London, on October 10, nearly a month after the incident.
His family had believed the 48-year-old was pushed down the Jubilee Line escalator at the underground station by a group of masked men at 5.05pm on September 15.
But detectives investigating the death have today announced there was no evidence of this.
Officers came to this conclusion after viewing a CCTV clip of the incident, which shows Mr Airlie accidently falling down the escalator at the central London station.
The force were alerted to the additional footage on January 22, following a media appeal for information.
Detective Inspector Chris Rogers, who is leading the investigation, said Mr Airlie’s death remains unexplained, after a post-mortem examination in October was inconclusive.
He stressed that his officers were awaiting the result of further tests and would continue to investigate all avenues ‘until we can build a full picture’.
Ian Airlie (pictured), 48, was found dead at his Greenwich home in October
Mr Airlie’s family had believed the 48-year-old was pushed down the Jubilee Line escalator at the underground station by a group of masked men at 5.05pm on September 15
DI Rogers said: ‘This new evidence means we have been able to rule out that Mr Airlie was pushed. His fall down the escalator was a very sad and unfortunate accident.
‘His death, however, remains unexplained and we will continue to investigate all avenues until we can build a full picture.
‘We continue to offer support to Mr Airlie’s family. They have been updated by officers and we request that they receive privacy at this difficult time.’
Last month, Mr Airlie’s cousin Sarah Strugnell, 50, claimed he had been set upon by a group of masked men on the day he fell down the escalator.
She said: ‘Something clearly happened, he was found with stamp marks to his chest and suffered a serious head injury.
‘We called him Little Ian, his dad was big Ian. They lived together as Ian was caring for his dad. His dad can now not face going back to the house.
‘He found out about Ian’s death while he was in hospital and he has been there ever since. It’s a complete shock.’
Mr Airlie had fallen into a woman of South Asian appearance who also stumbled on the escalator.
Mr Airlie had been caring for his elderly father, who is now in the hospital in a state of shock following the news of his death
Mr Airlie’s cousin Sarah Strugnell, 50, claimed he had been ‘set upon’ by a group of masked men, had stamp marks on his chest and had sustained a serious head injury
His family said Mr Airlie told security guards that he had fallen into a woman of South Asian appearance who also stumbled on the escalator
After leaving the Tube station, Mr Airlie is said to have spoken to another woman on a bus travelling from North Greenwich underground station.
She handed him a tissue as he was bleeding from above his left eye.
On the day of his fall, Mr Airlie was wearing a black T-shirt and light grey joggers.
He was carrying a turquoise and grey Mountain Warehouse rucksack, and he also had a medium-sized black suitcase with him.