A worker operating a crane at a recycling plant made a grim discovery when he found a man’s body in the waste he was handling. The deceased, identified as Nicholas Milburn, was found at the Haverton Hill recycling centre in Billingham on September 24, 2025. Operations at the facility were temporarily halted as the police launched an investigation into the incident.
The man’s identity was confirmed through fingerprint analysis performed at the University Hospital of North Tees, positively matching him to Mr. Milburn, as per police reports. A post mortem examination indicated that the provisional cause of death was “chest injuries,” according to a report by Teesside Live.
During the inquest, it was disclosed that a crane operator spotted the body while moving waste in line three at the recycling plant. Following the discovery, all operations at the site were stopped, and the necessary procedures were put in place. Cleveland Police had stated earlier that the 45-year-old’s death was not considered suspicious after a Home Office Post Mortem examination. The inquest has been adjourned, with the date for the next hearing yet to be confirmed.