COPS are probing the mystery death of a 45-year-old man after his body was found on the grounds of a secondary school.

A schoolgirl, 11, made the horror find as she was heading over to the football field for a PE lesson at Smestow Academy in Wolverhampton at around 10am on Monday morning.

A police officer stands near blue and white police tape on a field next to a soccer goal with a blue forensic tent behind it.
Police at the scene where a man’s body was found on the football fieldCredit: Alamy
 

West Midlands Police car parked outside Smestow Academy where a body was found.
The school was closed and pupils sent home after the grim discoveryCredit: Alamy
 

Smestow Academy, Castlecroft 19th January 2026 - West Midlands Police at the scene where a mans body was found behind a set of football goals on the school field of Smestow Academy in the Castlecroft area of Wolverhampton on Monday 19th January. A bl
The school closed to all pupils on MondayCredit: Alamy
Emergency services scrambled to the scene around 40 minutes later following the pupil’s grim discovery.

West Midlands Police said today that the man’s death was being treated as “unexplained”.

A spokesman for the force said: “Specialist detectives are supporting his loved ones at this tragic time.

“We are currently treating his death as unexplained, and officers are reviewing CCTV footage from around the area to establish exactly what happened.”

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Cops said the man was last seen wearing a distinctive camouflage jacket, grey gilet, jeans, and a beanie hat.

He was also carrying a red rucksack and may have been wearing sunglasses.

Smestow Academy remained closed today following the incident, which it said was not connected to the school.

Detective Chief Inspector Phil Poole said: “We are in the early stages of our investigation, and I would ask that people do not speculate on the circumstances.Dear Brooklyn, your ENTIRE mollycoddled existence is based on Brand Beckham

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“We know this has caused concern in the community and there will be extra officers in the area for reassurance.

“Anyone who may have seen the victim in the early hours of this morning (Monday) is urged to get in touch with us.”

The school was swiftly shut and pupils were sent home as cops probed the scene yesterday.

“Police told us to close school today because of an incident unconnected with Smestow Academy,” the school said in a statement.

“There will be pupil assemblies throughout the morning to reassure them.

“If your child has been affected, they can speak with their Head of House who will be able to provide specialist support.”

The father of the teenager girl who reportedly stumbled on the tragic find said: “My daughter phoned her mum up, screaming, and told her that she found a dead body by the goal posts on the field.

“She’s only 11 years of age. They went out for PE and it was very foggy this morning.

“It’s left her really shaken up and we’ve come to take her out of school early.

“It’s terrible what she’s had to see.”

A second parent revealed that a member of her family was in the same class.

“My nephew’s class were the ones that found him,” they wrote on Facebook.

“The school have offered counselling. Rest In Peace.”

It’s left her really shaken up and we’ve come to take her out of school early.

A local mum, who did not wish to be named, said she stumbled across the scene this morning while walking at a nature reserve near the school.

She said: “I was out with my son walking down the nature reserve directly opposite.

“We were walking slowly and we noticed something happening at the school. One of the teachers radioed, they said ‘major incident, member of the public found’.

“I asked if he was all right and they said they were unsure. Another teacher came to see if he was alive. It was quite clear that he wasn’t.

“When I got there, it looked as if he’d just been found. It’s a really scenic spot, it’s not what you’d expect.”

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson added: “We were called to a medical emergency in a field on Windmill Crescent, Castlecroft, Wolverhampton at 10.41am today.

“Two ambulances and a paramedic officer responded to the scene where, sadly, one man was confirmed deceased.”

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A blue tent erected at the scene within a police cordonCredit: BPM
 

Police launch probe after man's body 'discovered by pupils' at school
A police car at the scene on MondayCredit: SWNS
 

Police tape cordoning off an area at Smestow Academy where a body was found.
Cops are on the scene at the school after reports of a man’s body found on the groundsCredit: Alamy
A spokesperson for West Midlands Police previously said: “We’re currently at Smestow Academy after a discovery of the body in the grounds.

“Emergency services were called at around 10.40am today, and the man was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.

“Enquiries are now underway to confirm the man’s identity and the circumstances around his death.

“The school is closing to pupils as enquiries get underway.

“Anyone with information has been asked to get in touch via Live Chat or 101, quoting log 1452 of 19 January.”

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Anyone with information that could assist police has been asked to use the live chat facility on the West Midlands Police website.

Alternatively, call 101, quoting log 1452 of January 19.