Chris Matthews had gone to visit his daughter Beth's grave when he found the flowers and a card. He didn't recognise the name.
That was because had been left by a man who never met Beth, and didn't know her family - but who had travelled to her native Cornwall by train and spent a night there, in order to visit her resting place and pay his respects.
A message inside the card read: "I probably should explain why a completely random stranger left this card and the flowers on Beth's grave. Over the past year, her tweets and her blog have kept me alive.
READ MORE: Beth Matthews saved lives, but no one saved hers
"I first discovered her blog on a particularly dark day last May when I had convinced myself that after work I was going to go to the nearby canal and take my own life. Instead, I couldn't stop reading and when I'd finished I was very sad, but the suicidal moment had gone."
Beth, 26, a support worker and talented sailor, took her own life whilst a patient at a psychiatric unit in Stockport in March last year.
She ingested a poisonous substance she had ordered on the internet from Russia and which arrived on the specialist unit at The Priory's Cheadle Royal Hospital on which she was being treated, in the post. She was able to open it in front of staff and swallow a fatal amount.
A jury at an inquest into her death at Stockport Coroner's Court earlier this month said she received 'inadequate care', including being allowed to open her own mail by some staff, when her care plan specifically stated she shouldn't due to the risk.
As a result, they concluded her death was 'suicide contributed to by neglect.' Beth, who had been diagnosed with Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder (EUPD) had previously attempted to end her own life when she jumped off a bridge in her home county in April 2019.
A BBC News documentary on Beth, called The Lives She Saved, heard from the officer who was dispatched to the scene after the first reports of Beth being on the wrong side of the bridge's railings were received. Dramatic footage from PC Jessica Floyd's bodycam, which shows her sprinting down the motorway in order to get to Beth, is also played.
"I was scared," she said. "I think I swore and I ran to her. I didn't even look over the bridge, I just ran down the slip road. I ran up to her expecting to see the worst, but she was lying there, she was conscious and she was breathing. I held her hand, that's all I thought I could do in that moment."
Beth survived but suffered a number of severe and life-changing physical injuries which left her in daily pain and from which she never fully recovered.
However, after her discharge from hospital in September that year, she took the decision to open up on her experience. After a post on Facebook went viral, she began writing a blog called Life Beyond the Ledge, where she documented in great detail the 'raw reality of what mental illness can do.' She also shared inspiring messages based on her own experience.
"There is absolutely no shame in having mental health difficulties or suicidal thoughts," she said. "However cliché it sounds, there really is so many people out there that love you and care about you, no matter what your head is telling you. I know at times it can be so hard to believe, but trust me, I’ve been there."
She quickly acquired a massive following, including over 26,000 followers on Twitter at the time of her death.
The incredibly touching gesture by the man called Robert has now been revealed as Beth's family talk about the enormous impact she had on others struggling with their mental health.
Speaking in the documentary, Robert said she would be forever grateful to her for saving his life. "The message of her being in a completely devastating time in her life but then getting through it, I was like, 'well if Beth can get through this then surely I can get through this,'" he said.
"She definitely saved my life and I would imagine by going through the replies to her tweets that there were probably thousands of people like me out there."
As well as blogging, Beth also fundraised for the Devon Air Ambulance and spoke to police negotiators as part of their training. She also had an emotional reunion with PC Floyd.
"I think equally both of were very nervous but I remember seeing her and we hugged," she said. "And both us of were quite emotional. We spoke about the day that she jumped. She said I shouldn't blame myself, that I couldn't have done anything differently.
"Speaking to her and knowing a bit more about her life, I can see the good that she did. And is still doing" she added.
Following the meeting, Beth said on Twitter: "Today, I got to thank & hug the brave Police officer who saved my life. Despite witnessing me fall 50ft off a bridge, she ran down & held my hand until I was airlifted to hospital. This moment meant the world & reminded me just how grateful I am to be alive."
Beth's sister Lucy told the programme: "There are people who have said directly that Beth saved their lives. But it's just full of sadness knowing that she didn't do the same for herself."
"I hold on to all the happy memories because there were a lot. But also the ability she had to touch other people's lives. Even though what happened to Beth means she can't continue, for me, she should want her work to continue with helping other people. And if this helps one other person, I know Beth would be smiling."
Lucy said the first time her sister told her of her plans to go public with her experience she thought it was an 'amazing thing for her to be doing.'
"I know she felt very understandably nervous and anxious about it," she said. "But that first post, it was like an essay she had gone into detail about absolutely everything, writing about how she had fought to be here and how much she wanted to be here.
"And not only was she telling what she'd been through but she was very encouraging of people not to do the same thing. People just really took to her and her story."
"It gave her a purpose," she added. "She wanted to help other people even though she was struggling to help herself. It still didn't stop her. The whole time she was in hospital she was still messaging people, encouraging them. There was still that fight in her."
Dad Chris said she had an 'enormous' impact.' On her own death he said: "Something occurred in a place where she was supposed to be safe that never should be allowed to happen."
In a statement following the conclusion of her inquest, the family said the tragedy was 'wholly avoidable' and 'completely unnecessary' and they urged mental health providers to 'listen and act' on the findings of the jury, who identified a number of 'failings' in her care.
Beth's death was the third at the Priory Cheadle Royal in under three months. On January 23, 30-year-old Deseree Fitzpatrick died after being found unresponsive in her room. An inquest into her death found she had choked in her sleep after being given inappropriate medication which had caused 'significant sedation'.
The coroner said there was insufficient consideration of 'polypharmacy' and that her medication regime was inappropriate. On February 24, Lauren Bridges, a patient on a secure ward who had been diagnosed with a form of autism, also died there. Her inquest is due to take place next month.
Leading mental health charity Mind have now hailed Beth's advocacy and helping of others saying she was a 'huge inspiration.' They have also renewed their call for a public inquiry into ' into systemic failings of inpatient mental health settings.'
The government say they are commencing an 'eight-week rapid review' and will be analysing what data and evidence is currently available around inpatient settings and how it can be used to more effectively identify risks to patient safety.
However, Mind wants them to go further. Vicki Nash, Associate Director of Policy, Campaigns and Public Affairs, said: “We were immensely saddened to hear of Beth’s passing, and our thoughts are with her family and loved ones at this exceptionally difficult time.
"Beth was a very vulnerable young woman who was considered at a high risk of suicide, but she was also described in court as ‘bright’ and ‘vivacious’.
"For her followers and so many others, Beth’s generosity and willingness in sharing her story was a source of huge inspiration. Beth leaves behind a powerful legacy of encouraging openness around mental health, and her loss will be felt by people around the country.
“When people are sectioned under the Mental Health Act, they should be able to expect safety and dignity, at the very least. Mental health inpatient and crisis care settings are meant to be therapeutic environments, where people with some of the most serious mental health problems can receive appropriate and effective treatment. All too often, we are seeing that the opposite is true.
“Mind has been calling for a statutory public inquiry into systemic failings of inpatient mental health settings since September.
"In November, the UK government promised to make a final decision in the ‘coming days’, but it remains unclear as to whether we will see any intervention on these hugely upsetting and damaging accounts of abuse and neglect.
"We owe it to Beth, Lauren, Deseree and the many other people with mental health problems who are being repeatedly let down by the system supposed to care for them, to take urgent, evidence-based action.”
A spokesperson for the Priory Cheadle Royal said: “Our deepest condolences are with Beth Matthews’ family and friends. We apologise unreservedly for the shortcomings in her care.
“Every patient death is a tragedy, but patient safety is our utmost priority. Like all mental health services, both independent and NHS, our aim is to prevent serious acts of self-harm through appropriate care and treatment in a therapeutic environment.
"But we recognise that with nearly 500 patients admitted last year, Cheadle Royal Hospital cares for some of the most complex and challenging patients in the country – many of whom have made multiple previous attempts to take their own life and are not able to be looked after by their local NHS Trust.
“Despite the risks inherent in caring for complex patients, unexpected and tragic deaths of this nature remain especially rare. Our dedicated, compassionate team look after more than 25,000 people each year, and deliver highly successful treatment for the vast majority of patients.
“Priory shares Mind’s passion for world-leading mental health provision and we are playing a major part in delivering those services across the country. Where nationwide challenges exist for the sector, we are passionate about working collaboratively with Mind and other partners to achieve a shared vision.”
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “This is a heartbreaking case and our condolences go to the family and friends of Beth Mathews. We are committed to ensuring people struggling with mental health problems receive the treatment they need.
“We have announced an eight-week rapid review into mental health inpatient settings in England, which is an essential first step in improving patient safety.”
The Lives She Saved is now available to watch on IPlayer.
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