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May 16, 2005

Piano man still a mystery despite flood of phone calls
By Philippe Naughton, Times Online






A helpline set up to identify a mystery man found wandering in Kent was inundated with calls today after pictures of the man were published in the national press.

The man is a gifted musician who has stunned his carers with his virtuoso performances at the piano. But social workers looking after the man have not yet managed to work out the identity of the 'Piano Man', despite at least one promising lead.

The man has not uttered a word since Kent police picked him up on April 8, walking aimlessly on the streets of Sheerness, on the Isle of Sheppey, dripping wet and dressed in an expensive suit and tie - prompting speculation that he is a concert pianist. He is in his twenties or early thirties, slim with short brown hair and about 6ft tall.

Staff at the Medway Maritime Hospital gave him a pen and paper in the hope he might write his name or even draw his country�s flag. Instead the patient, dubbed the Piano Man, drew highly detailed pictures of a grand piano, showing not only the keys but also the intricate inner workings of the instrument.

His social worker, Michael Camp, showed him a piano in the hospital chapel and to his amazement the man sat down and delivered a two-hour performance of classical playing. Since then, he has written music and carried on playing the piano, but remains mute.

The case has drawn comparisons with the Oscar-winning 1996 movie Shine, which tells the story of the disturbed Australian pianist, David Helfgott.

Mr Camp said today: "The Missing Persons Helpline has been inundated with calls. It�s a fantastic response. We have had one definite lead, but I haven�t had time to follow it up yet."

Mr Camp said someone had called local police and given the name and address of who they believe the Piano Man may be. He said: "A name has been given of a possible person from the Sussex area. I haven�t been able to phone the person that phoned in to check it out."

He added: "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."

At a press conference in Dartford organised by the West Kent NHS Trust, a spokeswoman said today that the mystery man was very vulnerable.

"He�s not talking at all," she said. "He�s very frightened. He�s drawing, but not to communicate. We are aware that he is a very vulnerable man and we would be putting him in a dangerous situation if we let him go."

She was unable to confirm reports that the man played Tchaikovsky�s Swan Lake during what she described as a "beautiful" performance.

"There was nobody he was with skilled enough to recognise the music, they just knew it was classical music and played very well," she said.

She added: "We are keen to identify him as this will help us to care for him better in the future. At the moment we are continuing to care for him and assess his needs. As with all our patients we are unable to discuss any aspects of his care."

When he was found, the man appeared to be dressed as if he had just come from a concert, and Mr Camp said his playing had "amazed everyone who has heard him".

"It is difficult to stop him and he sounds concert standard. When he plays all his anxiety disappears," he added. "Away from the piano, he starts to breathe very quickly and shies away from people."
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Music is a kind of nutrition for my soul.~forever love.