'Tent man' expecting to die

Published: Thursday, 02 December 2010

THE man living in a tent at Wolvercote Lock on the Oxford Canal says he is expecting to die there.

Mark Payne became stranded at the lock when his wheelchair had a puncture, but refused to be taken into an hostel, having had bad experiences, and it was a local who gave him the tent as shelter.

Refused

Others have been giving him food and drink, and have offered to take him to an hostel, but he has refused, telling:

"I can't move. I'm trapped here. I'm just going to stay here and let nature take its course.

A spokesman for Oxford Homeless Pathways stated it would be willing to help him, but Mark has declined offers of being taken to a hostel due to what he said were previous bad experiences.