The family of a ‘unique’ musician have demanded answers after he was found dead at the bottom of a cave system four months after vanishing.
The body of Lucas Fulcher, 47, was found hidden in a chalk cave in Hangman’s Woods, Essex.
The 20-metre-deep underground pits known for mining during medieval times had been used for Scouts to go potholing before being turned into a hibernation area for bats.
They were no longer open to the public.
It took police more than 24 hours to retrieve the body after it was reported by a member of the public.
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Lucas had last been seen on 28 April. His death is being treated as unexplained.
In a heartfelt tribute, his family described him as ‘an unforgettable character’ and ‘a unique soul’ with a deep love of music.
In a statement released today, they said: ‘We are deeply saddened by the loss of Lucas, whose absence is felt by his mother, siblings, extended family, friends, and the wider community who knew him.
‘Lucas was a unique soul with a love for music. Whether he was writing songs, playing guitar, or singing—usually with a huge cup of coffee in his hand—music was his way of expressing himself.
‘Lucas faced many challenges throughout his life, but he always stayed true to who he was: creative, eccentric, and thoughtful in his own way. We know that anyone who knew him would agree that he was an unforgettable character.
‘We choose to remember him with love and happy memories.
‘We are grateful for the support shown to our family during this difficult time, and ask for privacy and kindness as we continue to grieve and seek answers.’
Investigations into Lucas’s death are ongoing.
The deneholes in Hangman’s Woods are considered the best preserved set in existence and are a Scheduled Monument. They consist of vertical shafts through sand with branching chambers cut into the chalk.
These deneholes are particularly deep, with shafts reaching more than 20 metres deep before they reach chalk.
Most of the deneholes have been infilled, but the ones still open have been fenced off, as it is a biological Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for the bat colony which roosts there.
They are the most important underground hibernation sites for bats in Essex, with three species the brown long-eared bat, Natterer’s bat and Daubenton’s bat.
Generally, there is no public access allowed to the deneholes, but it is possible to request access from the council.
