Daily Mail. Young British journalist froze to death when shooting film about homeless

A young filmmaker is believed to have frozen to death while making a documentary about sleeping rough on the streets as he tried to impress television bosses.

Lee Halpin planned to spend this week on the streets of Newcastle experiencing and filming what life is like for those who are living rough.

In a video explaining his project, he claimed he was applying for a position on a Channel 4 investigative journalism programme.
He said that as he had to show the channel he could be 'fearless' - a key 'value' of the broadcaster - he planned to spend a week 'immersed' in the world of homelessness, and wanted to 'sleep rough and scrounge for food.'

But three days after embarking on the project talented Lee, who lived with his family in Heaton, Newcastle, was found dead in a boarded-up hostel on Westgate Road, Newcastle.

It is not yet known how he died, but it's feared the 27-year-old may have succumbed to hypothermia.

The hopeful journalist said that he had spoken to homeless charity Crisis, and wanted to see what was available for homeless people in the North East.

Haplin said: 'I am about to go and spend a week being homeless, I will sleep rough for a week,
scrounge for my food.

'I will access the services that other people in the west end (of Newcastle) use.

'I will interact with as many homeless people as possible and immerse myself in that lifestyle as deeply as I can.

Police said his death was not suspicious. Ahead of his first night on the streets Haplin had expressed his excitement over the project and encouraged friends to support the cause.