First Posted on Antidepaware.co.uk
To view original article click here
The Free Library
May 18, 2013
A DAD-OF-TWO who died after vanishing was found semi-conscious in a stream, an inquest heard.
Anthony William McNamara, 52, of Throckley in Newcastle, died on September 14 just hours after being found in Throckley Dene near to his home.
He went missing the day before, leaving his wallets, keys and phone at the home his shared with his wife of 27 years Jacqueline.
The inquest, held in Newcastle, heard Mr McNamara had suffered spells of depression and had previously taken time off work because of it.
On the day he went missing Mr McNamara had been due to go to work and it was not until he did not return home his family raised the alarm.
The inquest, at Newcastle’s Civic Centre, heard evidence from PC Adelle Cockcroft who became involved in the search when Mr McNamara was reported missing.
She told how police investigating received information a man was lying in the dene.
“I attended the location and saw a male lying face up in the stream in a semi-conscious state,” she said.
She told the inquest how she pulled Mr McNamara out of the water with the help of colleagues but his breathing was very slow, his pulse was very faint and his body was very stiff and cold.
“He seemed to respond to voice, making grunting noises but was unable to speak or communicate,” she said.
PC Cockcroft also told the inquest on the opposite side of the bank she found a part drunk bottle of Sainsbury’s own brand Bourbon and an empty packet of anti-depressants.
CCTV footage revealed Mr Mc-Namara had purchased the alcohol from the Sainsbury store in Throckley earlier that day and the inquest heard the anti-depressants had been prescribed to him.
Mr McNamara, who had been diabetic for 10 years, was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary but his body temperature was only 22 C and he died a short time later.
The inquest also heard from pathologist Nigel Kirkham who carried out the post-mortem examination.
He told the inquest alcohol and paracetamol were found in Mr McNamara’s blood but not enough to cause death but enough to impair his movements.
He said Mr McNamara would have died as a result of his low body temperature from lying in the water for a prolonged period of time.
The inquest also heard Mr Mc-Namara had been receiving treatment for depression from 2008 and had made a suicide attempt in January last year.
But the court also heard he had deeply regretted this and promised his family it would not happen again.
Coroner Karen Dilks recorded a narrative verdict and told the inquest she was not convinced there was enough to persuade her Mr McNamara has intended on taking his own life.
On giving her verdict, she said: “Mr McNamara died due to his own actions while suffering from depression.”