MYSTERY surrounds the death of a Latvian man found dead in a Worcester field.

Druvis Ruiga was found dead in a tent in Ronkswood Hill meadows, off Newtown Road, on Tuesday, February 1, by a friend, who was later arrested on suspicion of murder.

He was released and remains on police bail.

The friend saw Mr Ruiga on Thursday, January 27, but Mr Ruiga had not been seen since. During that period the 43-year-old, of no fixed address, suffered a fatal head injury. A post-mortem examination outlined three possible causes – that Mr Ruiga had fallen onto a hard surface, been banged forcibly into a hard object while standing upright or been hit with a hard object.

A police investigation could not confirm the circumstances surrounding his death.

Giving evidence at an inquest in Stourport-on- Severn, acting Detective Inspector Paul Hardman said: “Due to the findings of the post-mortem examination a police investigation was launched into Mr Ruiga’s death.

“A search of the area and the scene was carried out looking for anything such as a weapon or evidence of a fall or anything we could use to explain the injury caused to him.

“At the present time we’re unable to say how the injury was caused. Between January 27 and the time he was found it is unknown what happened to him.”

Det Insp Hardman said the friend who found his body “gave very detailed movements of himself and the victim on the last day he saw him”.

They had been drinking heavily in Worcester and both men were captured on CCTV in the city centre.

Recording an open verdict, Worcestershire Coroner Geraint Williams said: “All the evidence discloses is that he sustained injury which may have rendered him unconscious.

“It would have made it highly unlikely for him to be able to move himself any significant distance thereafter but that cannot be ruled out.

“He suffered fatal injury and was found dead in the tent where he was living.

“While there is no evidence of an assault by a third party that too cannot be ruled out.

“Equally if he had fallen and struck his head, it cannot be ruled out that he regained consciousness and made his way to the only shelter he had and then died.”