Garrett Elsey's family: We may never know why he ended up in a bin
The family of the student found dead in a bin in Avonmouth say they may never know the sequence of events that led to his death.
Today the Post revealed that Canadian Garrett Elsey, 22, was crushed in the back of the bin lorry - less than a day after arriving in Bristol to start a Masters degree in international security.
Since shocked workers at New Earth Solutions found his body in rubbish dumped by a lorry last Thursday morning, police have been trying to find out how and why he ended up in a communal waste bin.
The Post understands the 22-year-old was still alive when he was scooped up during the May Gurney lorry's collection round.
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Avon and Somerset police have said further investigations are needed before the cause of death can be officially confirmed, but the Post understands his fatal injuries were caused by crushing.
An inquest is likely to be opened later this week and adjourned for several months for information and evidence to be gathered.
The Edmonton Journal in Canada has spoken to Garrett's family, who say that his glasses and shoes were found in the alley adjacent to the area where the body was found.
“They’re (the police) not concerned that there seemed to be a criminal element involved, in the sense that there was no evidence of any kind of robbery,” said Brent Elsey, Garrett's uncle.
He added that Garrett’s passport, money, phone and watch were not taken.
“We suspect a combination of being new to town ... being tired from his trip and probably having had some drinks in the evening, (he) made a wrong turn and instead of going in the direction of his home, went off in an opposite direction,” Mr Elsey said.
“There are some gaps in the timeline that, unfortunately, may never be filled,” he said. “The police are saying this is probably a tragic accident. The question of how he got into the bin remains unanswered.”
A memorial is scheduled in Garrett's hometown on Thursday afternoon.
It is believed the student from Alberta arrived in the UK on Wednesday night, but his airline lost his luggage.
His uncle Brent said he texted his parents to say he had checked into his new digs and all was well.
Garrett then met up with a friend from Canada he used to play rugby with but when they went their separate ways at the end of the night, Garrett somehow ended up in a communal bin kept behind closed doors next to the Jacobs Building at the top of Jacob's Wells Road.
The 22-year-old had recently completed a degree in history and political science at Ottawa's Carleton University and had spoken on his Twitter web page of his excitement at coming to study at Bristol University.
Police had identified him from his passport and the fingerprints he gave when he entered the UK.
Communal bins at nine flat complexes were cordoned off by police before they narrowed down their investigations to the bin store at the Jacobs Building, next to West End car park.
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