An individual operating a crane at a recycling plant made a grim discovery when he found a deceased man among the waste he was handling.
The body of Nicholas Milburn was located at the Haverton Hill recycling centre in Billingham by the worker sorting through the garbage. An official investigation into the man’s passing is currently in progress. The discovery was made on September 24, 2025, leading to the temporary suspension of operations at the facility while authorities conducted their inquiries.
Authorities confirmed the identity of the deceased through fingerprint analysis carried out at the University Hospital of North Tees, positively identifying Mr. Milburn, as per police reports.
A post mortem examination, as reported by Teesside Live, indicated that the initial medical cause of death was “chest injuries.” Area coroner Paul Appleton for Teesside and Hartlepool mentioned, “A crane operator was working in line three… at the Haverton Hill recycling plant. They were utilizing a remotely operated claw.
“During the waste retrieval process on line three, the worker noticed the body of a deceased male.” It was disclosed during the hearing that the crane was then brought down to ground level, and immediate actions were taken to halt all site activities.
Cleveland Police had previously stated that the death of the 45-year-old was not considered suspicious following a Home Office Post Mortem examination. The inquest has been adjourned, with no confirmed date set for the subsequent hearing.
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