Family pays tribute to ‘gentleman’ who died after being pushed down escalator

Ian Airlie, 48, was found dead at his home in Greenwich after the fall last October (Picture: Metro)

The family of a man who died after being allegedly pushed down an escalator at London Waterloo have said they have been left devastated by his death.

Ian Airlie, 48, was found dead at his home in Greenwich on October 10 last year.

Speaking to Metro, his cousin Sarah Strugnell, 50, said his family and the community have been left devastated by his death.

‘We called him Little Ian, his dad was big Ian,’ she said. ‘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.’

Sarah told Metro she heard Ian had been ‘set upon’ by a group of masked men.

She said: ‘Something clearly happened, he was found with stamp marks to his chest and suffered a serious head injury.’

She described her cousin, who was a painter and carer, as an ‘avid Charlton Athletic fan’ as a ‘complete gentleman and a total family man’, adding the whole community has been left in shock.

Police have urged witnesses to get in touch with any information they may have about the incident (Picture: Met Police)

‘There are not enough words to describe how lovely Little Ian was. We missed him at Christmas Eve, it was like something was missing.

‘We are a tight knit community, and there’s lots of family in the area. Ian looked out for everyone. He’s helped raise our family, we are still processing it.

‘Our cousin was the one to find him at home. It’s devastating.’

After his death, relatives told police that he had reportedly been pushed down a Jubilee Line escalator a month earlier, and left bleeding above his eye.

A woman he spoke to on a bus home gave him a tissue to stem the blood, police said, and they are now trying to track her down to find out more about what happened.

Following his fall at 5.05pm on September 15, Mr Airlie is believed to have spoken to security at the station.

He told them he had fallen into a woman described as of south Asian appearance who also fell on the escalator.

After getting off the tube, a woman on his bus from North Greenwich underground station is said to have spoken to him and handed him the tissue to stem the blood near his left eye.

Ian Airlie said he had been pushed on a Jubilee line escalator (Picture: Jubilee)

Transport for London confirmed to Metro station staff gave first aid, logged the incident, and offered to call Mr Airlie an ambulance but he declined.

Police put out an appeal today urging the woman who helped him, as well as anyone else who saw the incident, to come forward.

Mr Airlie was wearing a black t-shirt and light grey jogging bottoms on the day of the fall. He had a turquoise and grey Mountain Warehouse rucksack on his back and was carrying a medium, black suitcase.

Detective Inspector Chris Rogers said: ‘Mr Airlie’s death is tragic, and his family continue to mourn the loss of a loving son, partner, brother and uncle.

‘We are determined to piece together the events, and give Mr Airlie’s family the answers they are searching for. You can assist us by coming forward with any information. However small it may seem to you, this could be the key we need to unlock the investigation.’

A post-mortem examination was inconclusive and further tests are being carried out.

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

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