The Mail in South Cumbria has apologised after a “malicious hoax” caused it to wrongly report the death of 27-year-old pub landlord, Jack Stilling.
The full page obituary was written after a man claiming to be John Todd contacted the news desk to say his “close friend” had died. He first sent an email and then did a telephone interview with a reporter.
However, when the article, headlined “Pub boss was a loveable rogue” was published, the real John Todd got in touch with the paper. He said that not only was Stilling alive, but he denied ever having been in contact with the Mail.
The paper has since issued a correction, apology and it has removed the original article from its website:
“The Mail was yesterday the victim of a malicious hoax,” it said in a statement.
“A story featured tributes to Jack Stilling, 27, owner of the Hare & Hounds in Bowland Bridge.
“We are delighted to report that Mr Stilling is in fact alive and well.
“The Mail was contacted first by email over the weekend and then by telephone on Monday by a man claiming to be Mr Stilling’s close friend John Todd.
“Mr Todd has since told The Mail he did not send the email and nor did he provide a telephone interview.
“We apologise to Mr Stilling and to all his family and friends for any distress caused.”
Speaking to The Sun, Stilling said that he was “swamped with hundreds of calls” when the article was published, including from his mother and girlfriend.
“It’s the height of unprofessionalism to print that without checking,” he told the paper.
“Even after my mum knew I was alive, she still had to leave work because she was hysterical.”
