Dying man hit by train had phone and wallet stolen by thief

A grieving family is appealing for help after a dying man had his phone and wallet stolen by a thief.

Ross Elrick, 31, was hit by train on January 24 after battling mental health issues.

Before he died at Burntisland Station, in Fife, Ross had put his phone, a Samsung Galaxy S10+ in prism green, and his wallet down on a bench.

His brother Philip, 31, believes the phone may have held messages for his family as no note was left behind.

However, CCTV footage captured a man picking them up and walking off with them.

Ross’s family are devastated by the theft and are desperate to get the phone back to see if it had messages on it.

Ross Elrick's grieving relatives are trying to get his possessions back. Credit: Matthew Newby SWNS. — Ross Elrick’s grieving relatives are trying to get his possessions back. Credit: Matthew Newby SWNS.

Dad-of-two Philip said: “I was shocked and angered by it because we just want them back.

“There’s the sentimentality side of it.

“He would have had pictures on his phone probably of the family and of our child.

“He was one of a kind, a gentleman.

“He had the biggest heart of anyone I’ve ever met.

“He would always be looking out for others over himself – just the most generous, thoughtful, selfless, kind hearted person I’ve ever known.”

‘He didn’t leave anything behind, like a note or a will in physical form so it leads me to believe that maybe he took the phone from his pocket and lay it on the bench with his wallet because there was some kind of goodbye or explanation on it.’
Philip Elrick

Ross, who lived in Burntisland, had worked for SSE in their debt management department, and his brother said he ‘excelled’ at his job, but had taken time off as he battled mental health issues.

He was a doting uncle to his two nieces, and would have had photos of them on his phone.

Philip added: “He didn’t leave anything behind, like a note or a will in physical form so it leads me to believe that maybe he took the phone from his pocket and lay it on the bench with his wallet because there was some kind of goodbye or explanation on it.”

The family are asking for the belongings to be handed into the police.

Ross will be laid to rest on February 12.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said: “We are investigating an incident of theft at Burntisland station on Sunday evening, January 24.

“Enquiries into this are ongoing.”