Airport mystery Pole found dead in London

A Polish electrician who mysteriously became stranded in a Brazilian airport for 18 days has been found dead in London.

The half-naked body of Robert Wladyslaw Parzelski, 44, was discovered sprawled across steps leading to a coal shed in Bayswater where he had been sleeping rough.

His story had spread worldwide because of its likeness to 2004 film The Terminal, starring Tom Hanks. Mr Parzelski arrived at Guarulhos airport in São Paulo on June 17 last year without cash or a return flight.

He claimed a friend had sent him to retrieve two phone handsets but the contact did not turn up. He survived on handouts from passers-by and staff. It is believed the Polish consulate paid for his flight back to London in July.

An inquest heard sweepers found Mr Parzelski's body on October 23, surrounded by rubbish bags and empty bottles. He had been living in the coal shed of the London West Bank gallery in Westbourne Grove.

Westminster coroner's court was told an empty wallet was in his pocket. Cause of death was liver disease and lethal levels of acid in the body. Coroner Fiona Wilcox said there was no evidence of foul play and recorded a verdict of death by natural causes.

Art gallery director Tommy Blaquiere said: "We nicknamed him 'the chess player' - he looked really intelligent, like he had a story to tell. He was found half-naked and had his finger pointing up, almost accusingly, at someone."