Beachy Head Plunge Death Couple Named

A couple who placed the body of their dead son in a rucksack before jumping off Beachy Head cliffs to their death have been named.

The bodies of Neil Puttick, 34, his 44-year-old Japanese wife Kazumi, and their son Samuel, aged 5, were recovered from the notorious suicide spot near Eastbourne, East Sussex, yesterday morning.

Samuel had died at the family home on Friday evening after being discharged from hospital where he had been treated for meningitis.

A spokesman for Bath and North East Somerset NHS confirmed the five-year-old had received treatment for pneumococcal meningitis at the Paediatric Intensive Children's Unit at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children.

"When it became clear that Sam had no hope of recovery from his severe infection, he was discharged to his family home on Friday at his parents' request to die peacefully," the spokesman added. "He was certified dead at his home by a doctor at approximately 8pm that evening."

The spokesman said it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

The family lived at Wishing Well Farm in Brokerswood, Westbury, Wiltshire.

Det Insp Ian Williams, of Sussex Police said: "I am satisfied that Samuel's grieving parents Neil and Kazumi appear to have taken their own lives.

"This is a tragic incident and we extend our sympathies to their family and to the large number of friends and carers affected."

Mr and Mrs Puttick jumped off the cliffs with two rucksacks, one containing Samuel's body and the other carrying toys.

Samuel's body was found on Monday in a rucksack about 400ft down the notorious suicide spot, near Eastbourne, East Sussex, alongside his parents' bodies.

A second rucksack found by rescuers nearby was filled with toys.

A silver Volkswagen camper van found abandoned in a car park nearby was also recovered and is undergoing forensic examination.

(JM/BMcc)