A much-loved businessman who was tragically found dead on the site of a former factory had been suffering from increased anxiety due to building work at his home, an inquest heard.
Simon Lee Thwaite, 45, was discovered at the old factory on December 12, 2021.
An inquest into his death, held at Caernarfon, Wales, on March 15 heard how Mr Thwaite's parter, Non Thwaite, became worried when she could not get a hold of her husband on his mobile phone or the landline. This was despite the fact that he was meant to be at home self-isolating with Covid-19.
A statement from Mrs Thwaite, read out by Sarah Riley, Assistant Coroner for North West Wales, told of how when she returned to their home in Caernarfon, she found letters written by her husband, who had previously suffered from depression. One indicated an intention to take his own life and that he would be at the former Ferodo factory.
She alerted North Wales Police and PC Liam Carr alongside another colleague searched the site. They found a fence had been damaged on a footpath and made their way to a disused warehouse at the back of the site, North Wales Live writes.
There, they found Mr Thwaite, dressed in a blue Puffa jacket and blue cargo trousers. Police officers said he was “unresponsive” and agreed CPR would not have been successful. Paramedics were called and he was declared dead at the scene.
Simon’s GP Dr Gwilym Evans said he had held a consultation with Mr Thwaite who said his anxiety had worsened due to building work at home. He asked his patient if he had had any intention to harm himself and said Mr Thwaite told him: “I'm not that way at all.” The GP was “shocked and surprised” on being told he had died.
Helplines and websites
Freephone 24 hour National Domestic Violence Helpline 0808 2000 247.
Samaritans (116 123) samaritans.org operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org, write to Freepost RSRB-KKBY-CYJK, PO Box 9090, STIRLING, FK8 2SA and visit www.samaritans.org/branches to find your nearest branch.
CALM (0800 58 58 58) thecalmzone.net has a helpline is for men who are down or have hit a wall for any reason, who need to talk or find information and support. They're open 5pm to midnight, 365 days a year.
Childline (0800 1111 ) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.
PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
Depression Alliance is a charity for people with depression. It doesn’t have a helpline, but offers a wide range of useful resources and links to other relevant information depressionalliance.org
Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts. Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying studentsagainstdepression.org
The Sanctuary (0300 003 7029 ) helps people who are struggling to cope - experiencing depression, anxiety, panic attacks or in crisis. You can call them between 8pm and 6am every night. There are other depression charities.
The Assistant Coroner said: “I am satisfied that Simon died as a result of his own actions. My conclusion is one of suicide.”
In her statement, Mrs Thwaite said: “He was loved by his family and friends. His love for us will live in our hearts forever.”
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