16 May 2005

Massive response for ‘Piano Man’ information appeal

The National Missing Persons Helpline (NMPH) appeal for information about a mysterious man dubbed the ‘Piano Man’ has received a massive response.

The man's social worker Michael Camp told reporters that they had received one lead, the name of a possible person in Sussex. However Mr Camp said: "We had one of these before, from the local area, and it sounded promising but ... people start to think ’It might be this person that we know’ and it doesn’t quite materialise. We’ll just have to wait and see."

The man was found late at night on April 8, walking along the beach at Sheerness in Kent. He was dressed in a soaking wet suit and it is believed that he may have been in the sea.

The man was taken to Medway Maritime Hospital in Kent, but he has not spoken since he was found. However, staff at the hospital uncovered his talent when they gave him paper and a pen in attempt to find out his name or more details about him. The man instead drew a detailed picture of a grand piano and when staff took him to the hospital chapel, which had a piano, he stunned them by giving a two-hour performance of classical music. According to the National Missing Persons Helpline, the man also drew a picture of the Swedish flag.

The man was taken to a psychiatric unit in Kent, where he has been given access to a piano.

It is believed that the man could be a professional musician, but so far, any attempts to discover more about his identity have failed. Various reports have described him as “shy”, “agitated” and “extremely distressed” and it has been reported that he may have suffered some kind of trauma, which triggered amnesia, or a nervous breakdown.

The case has been widely compared to that of acclaimed pianist David Helfgott, who suffered a nervous breakdown – his story was dramatised in the 1996 movie ‘Shine’.

The man is described as tall and thin, with short brown hair and appears to be in his twenties or thirties. He is described as physically fit and does not appear to suffer from any other health problems.

The National Missing Persons Helpline have appealed for anyone with any information regarding the ‘Piano Man’ to contact them on: 0500 700 700. A photo of the man is available on the National Missing Persons Helpine web-site at: www.nmph.underwired.com/unidentified_persons

(KMcA/SP)