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A London teacher crushed to death after falling asleep in a wheelie bin had just become a British citizen, his best friend revealed today.
New Zealander Scott Williams had planned to settle permanently in Britain after starting a new relationship.
The 35-year-old maths teacher, who was living in Brent, died after climbing into the bin apparently to sleep off the effects of alcohol after a night out in Brighton with his brother.
He was still in the bin when it was scooped up into a dustcart and tipped into the lorry's crushing mechanism.
The rugby coach was found among rubbish when the truck was emptied more than 24 hours later at a nearby waste recycling site on Monday.
Today his best friend Lannon Durrant - who attended the same school as Mr Williams in their home town of Hamilton and lived with him for a time in London - said the keen sportsman had wanted to stay in the capital.
Speaking from New Zealand, he told the Standard: "He had just sorted out his British citizenship. He was going to hang around. He just started seeing a girl in the last few months, and that was one of the things keeping him there.
"He was quite happy where he was - he did not want to come home."
Mr Williams first came to London in 2000, and spent time travelling around Europe before getting a job at Harrow High and Sports College.
He returned to New Zealand in 2007, coming back here a year later, and was understood to have been working as a temporary teacher at a number of schools in north-west London.
His parents and younger sister are still in New Zealand.
He was last seen at about 1am on Sunday after visiting a number of pubs, and was reported missing at 8am on Monday.
Mr Durrant said: "It is horrible. Everyone is absolutely shocked - it is just an unbelievable way for him to go.
"He lived for the moment. He was very good natured and extremely fun to be around. He would give you the shirt off his back if you were in need."
Former colleague Jacqueline Glazerman said: "He's a lovely guy and I'm really shocked by the news of his death. He was a fantastic teacher and an inspiration to children. It's just terrible."
Reader views (10)
How can a big rugby player enter a wheely bin?didn't they realised that the bin was heavy?this sounds very strange.I am very sad as this was my sons teacher a very lovely person to die is such bizarre cirumstances.One of the questions that baffle me is ,why didn't the dust bin men check the bin before emptying it? this is very disturbing .my thoughts and prayers are with the family.
- Angelina, London, 21/07/2009 22:17
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Another example of how damaging the influence of alcohol can be.
- Dom, London, 21/07/2009 21:17
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We've had these bins for a couple of months now and the Council have had to put stickers on them to deter people from climbing in! But how pissed do you have to be to climb into a rubbish bin, (no easy feat as they only have a small opening on the top,) and crash out on a pile of stinking rubbish!?
- Chris, Brighton, England., 21/07/2009 21:17
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The little access doors on the big black bins have all been removed in Brighton
- Albert Hall, hove england, 21/07/2009 21:17
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What a bizarre thing to do - even when drunk. As for safety issues the fact is only an idiot would get in a wheelie bin. Apart from hazard stickers and warning people through this story I think people need to accept responsibility for their own stupidity. Sadly he has lost his life in the most awful of ways. His poor family.
- Wendy, London, 21/07/2009 21:17
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I hope the Bin men are ok, after discovering him …
Sorry I’m absolutely shocked when I saw the headline I assume the wheelie bin had fallen on top of him, not him actually sleep inside one! The wheelie bins I’ve seen are not that big & look very uncomfortable to sleep in.
- Jade, London, England, 21/07/2009 21:17
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EDITED by admin @ 16.05 on July 15 2009
Spirit/Tone
- Jdf, NicFrancee, 21/07/2009 21:17
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This man may have done something very foolish but he paid the ultimate price. Can any of us say we have never done something silly while under the influence? I doubt it.
- Sarah Bradshaw, Enfield, Middx, 21/07/2009 21:17
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The effects of alcohol,what a waste of life.
how did he ever become a teacher?, sheer stupidity.
I hope people learn from this.
- Millie Mollie, south africa, 21/07/2009 21:17
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EDITED by admin @ 16.06on July 15 2009
Spirit/Tone
- Bob, Cheam, 21/07/2009 21:17
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