D-Day commemorations ‘escapee’ Bernard Jordan dies

A British war veteran who left his care home to attend the 70th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France has died aged 90.

Bernard Jordan - dubbed the Great Escaper after his cross-Channel adventure last year - died peacefully in hospital.

His death was announced in a statement by Gracewell Healthcare, which runs The Pines care home in Hove, East Sussex, where Mr Jordan, known as Bernie, lived.

Mr Jordan hit headlines globally when he disappeared from the care home to embark on a trip to the D-Day anniversary events in Normandy wearing his war medals under his grey mac.

His disappearance sparked a police search last June 5 and his whereabouts were uncovered only when a younger veteran phoned later that night to say he had met Mr Jordan and he was safe.

He was later inundated with more than 2,500 birthday cards from around the world following his adventure to Normandy.

PA