THE MAN who was found badly burned in Cowes High Street in March has died in hospital The Gazette can reveal.

The 42 year old local man approached building contractors who were working at the Sainsbury’s Local store in Cowes High Street at around 2.15am on Monday, March 22, 2010.

The badly burnt man explained to staff that he had been burnt in a fire, although the location of the fire was not clear. Police have, however, been carrying out forensic enquiries at a house on Princes Esplanade where a fire was reported in the early hours of the same day.

The man was taken to St Mary’s hospital and later transferred to the Queen Victoria Hospital in Sussex.

Police have confirmed that a man reported to have received burns on the Isle of Wight died in hospital in July 2010.

“He approached staff working at a Sainsbury’s store in Cowes High Street to ask for help at around 2.15am on Monday, March 22, 2010. The 42-year-old man said he had been involved in a fire,” said the police.

“He was taken to St. Mary’s Hospital in Newport on the Isle of Wight and later transferred to a specialist burns unit at the Queen Victoria Hospital in East Grinstead in West Sussex.

“The death is not being treated as suspicious.”

One line of inquiry involved police scenes of crime officers and staff carrying out forensic inquiries at a derelict bungalow on Princes Esplanade in Cowes where a fire was reported during the early hours of Monday, March 22, 2010.

Police are not in a position to name the deceased as formal identification procedures have not been completed.

A file is being prepared for the Coroner who will open an inquest in due course.