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Man freezes to death on day 3 of trying to live as the homeless do
April 6, 2013
Friends believed that Lee Halpin, 26, who was discovered in a boarded up hostel on Wednesday morning, may have succumbed to hypothermia as temperatures reached as low as -4C overnight in the city.
But yesterday, detectives investigating Mr Halpin's death arrested a 26-year-old and a 30-year-old on suspicion of being concerned in the supply of controlled drugs.
A Northumbria police spokesman said the men had been bailed pending further inquiries and that a report was being prepared for the coroner.
Mr Halpin, a Newcastle University graduate, had planned to spend a week experiencing life on the streets and on Sunday, the night before he embarked on the project, he made a video in which he said he wanted to "immerse himself" in the lifestyle.
However the Newcastle University graduate also spoke about how it had caused "trepidation" among his friends and family.
"I am about to go and spend a week being homeless in the West End of Newcastle," he said.
"I will sleep rough, scrounge for my food, access all the services that other homeless individuals in the West End use. I will interact with as many homeless people as possible and immerse myself in that lifestyle as deeply as I can."
In the clip, Mr Halpin said he was producing the documentary as part of an application for a position on an Channel 4 investigative journalism programme.
He said: "I hope that you perceive this to be a fearless approach to a story. "It certainly feels brave from where I’m sat right now.
"I am about to embark upon this documentary tomorrow morning. It has certainly caused a huge amount of trepidation amongst my family and friends who do think it is a brave thing to do. That is the impression I want to leave you with about my willingness to get to the heart of a story."
Mr Halpin, who studied creative writing, regularly appeared on a local radio and founded a magazine, Novel, which covered arts and culture in the city.
On Sunday, he posted a message on twitter, the social networking site, asking his followers if anyone had a sleeping bag he could borrow.
Friend Daniel Lake told the Newcastle Chronicle that he had spoken to him on Saturday.
“Lee was a great guy, a character and was well known," he said.
"His big things were creative writing and poetry. He was making a documentary about homeless people living in Newcastle’s West End.
“No one knows how he passed away, but we think it could have been hypothermia. He made the ultimate sacrifice trying to raise awareness about what was happening to other people.”
Other friends have also paid tribute to Mr Halpin, who lived in Newcastle with his family, online.
Dean Sowden said: "Lee was a prominent figure in my life. I remember him as a caring and passionate young man who always had time for me on a personal level, he always had the right suggestions that got me over some dark times.
"I miss him terribly but I will always remember his wit, his smile, his hope that things will get better and, on a lighter note, his dress sense - boy could that lad dress himself accordingly."
Jeff Wilson said: "I met Lee when he was studying the documentary film module at Newcastle University. Great guy with a massive yearning to learn, a ready smile and a generous nature. I’m stunned. He’ll be sorely missed."
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said the body of a man believed to be in his 20s was found in a derelict building on Westgate Road at 9.50am on Wednesday.
A post-mortem examination has not yet been carried out. An inquest into his death is due to open on Tuesday.