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Detectives have revealed a pensioner died of a heart attack following a rock throwing incident at a castle, as they renew their appeal for witnesses.
The pensioner, Charles Hilder, died in the grounds of Lullingstone Castle, in Eynsford, near Dartford, at around 5pm last Thursday.
VIDEO: Police at the scene of the incident near the castle grounds
Officers were called to the castle following reports of a disturbance and Mr Hilder, 66, was pronounced dead at the scene.
A post-mortem has since revealed Mr Hilder died from a heart attack but officers are continuing to probe the wider circumstances.
It's alleged he was involved in an altercation with two boys near a lake in the grounds just before his death, during which items believed to be rocks were thrown towards Mr Hilder.
Several minutes later a further verbal argument took place between the boys and Mr Hilder in a car park, which is by the lake and near the castle gate.
After the boys had left, at around 5.50pm Mr Hilder collapsed and later died.
Detectives would like to speak with the two boys, or anyone who saw them in the area.
They are understood to be white and aged between 11 and 18. At the time they were wearing dark t-shirts and lighter coloured shorts.
One of them may have been carrying a fishing rod.
A person flying a drone in the area has made contact with investigators following an earlier appeal but police are requesting further information from anyone at the scene.
DCI Ivan Beasley said: "We are seeking to obtain any information that can help us establish the full circumstances leading up to Mr Hilder’s death.
"We have now established that a man and a woman, aged around 20, were sunbathing or picnicking in the field near to the car park at around 5pm and would urge them to contact us at their earliest opportunity.
"We would also like to obtain any video that may have been recorded by motorists or cyclists who travelled along Castle Road or Shoreham Road, between 12pm and 7pm on May 28."
"In addition to this, we would ask anyone who attended the Lullingstone Castle area to review personal photographs they have taken as they may feature the boys in the background.
Anyone with information that may assist the investigation should call Kent Police on 01622 604100, quoting reference 28-1127.
Anybody with video footage can make a report through the Kent Police section of the Major Incident Public Reporting Site here or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111, or by completing an online form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.
The castle and grounds form part of one of England’s oldest family estates, dating back to the Domesday Book in 1086.
It is owned by the Hart-Dyke family and attracts visitors from around the world to see its World Garden of exotic plants.
Tom Hart-Dyke regularly appears in the media to talk about the gardens.
In 2000, he made headlines when he was kidnapped by Colombian rebels while hunting for orchids.
