Riddle of the Piano Man

New clues emerged today to help identify a mystery pianist.

The man has not spoken since he was found wandering on a road near a beach in Sheerness on the Isle of Sheppey on 8 April.

He was smartly dressed in a dark suit and was soaking wet. When he was given a pen and paper he drew a picture of a grand piano. He was shown a hospital piano and to the amazement of staff gave a two-hour performance of classical music.

The case has drawn comparisons with the film Shine which tells the story of pianist David Helfgott who overcame mental problems to play again. Today hospital staff revealed details which they hope might give clues to the identity of the patient nicknamed the "Piano Man".

Police said there was no sign of injury to the man who is 6ft tall and thin and in his twenties or thirties.

He was first taken to the accident and emergency at the Medway Maritime hospital in Gillingham and is now being treated at a psychiatric unit in Dartford.

Canon Alan Amos, the hospital chaplain, said: "He likes to play what I would call mood music, quite circular in nature without defined beginnings or endings.

"Playing the piano seems to be the only way he can control his nerves and his tension and relax. When he is playing he blanks everything else out."

Mr Amos added: "It's a very sad case. Clearly there must have been some sort of trauma and it is important to find out what it was."

Michael Camp, a social worker who is based at the Medway Maritime Hospital, said: "When he came in, there was nothing obviously wrong with him but police felt he had a mental health problem. He appears to be very anxious but we have no idea why. He has, as far as we know, committed no crime but we feel he is very vulnerable.

"When we took him to the chapel piano it really was amazing. I cannot get within a yard of him without him becoming very anxious.

"Yet at the piano he comes alive. I can stand close to him and he is oblivious. It is extraordinary.

"I am not knowledgeable about classical music but I could tell he was pretty good."

Interpreters from Poland, Latvia and Lithuania were brought in to see if he was from eastern Europe, and possibly an asylum seeker, but no one could get through to him. Mr Camp made an urgent appeal for anyone who knows the man to contact the Nat ional Missing Persons Helpline, which has launched its own appeal, on 0500 700 700.

The manager of the psychiatric unit where he is being held, Ramanah Venkiah, said the man has stopped playing and drawing.

Mr Venkiah said: "We can't communicate with him. He is difficult to assess because he gives no indication that he has understood anything."