Simon Charles
PFD Report
All Responded
Ref: 2016-0465
All 1 response received
· Deadline: 22 Feb 2017
Sent To
Response Status
Responses
1 of 1
56-Day Deadline
22 Feb 2017
All responses received
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Organisations named in PFD reports must respond within 56 days explaining what actions they are taking.
Source: Courts and Tribunals Judiciary
Coroner's Concerns
The Family and others at inquest raised concerns that there are not more preventative measures (apart from a fence) to (hose contemplating suicide (or undertaking risky behaviour) at Hells Mouth; which is a renowned suicide location in Cornwall: provided examples of the type of measures which they felt could additionally be put in place such as: Providing the telephone number of suicide support agencies such as the Samaritans in the same way as at Beachy Head, East Sussex natural barriers at the edge of the cliff such as encouraging or planting gorse or other such plants as in Devon along the coast line especially where falls have been known to have occurred The coastline around Cornwall and in particular; the area around Hells Mouth are owned by the National Trust It would require the consent of the National Trust to put up such signs or other preventative measures this is the reason for raising the concerns with you and your organisation.
Responses
Response received
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Dear Dr Carlyon Thank you for your letter dated December 2016 regarding the recent inquest into the death of Simon Dennis Charles_ I can confirm that our local team are in contact withl Director of Cornwall Samaritans, to investigate options for introducing signage at Hells Mouth: The initial thought from our staff is that it would be most practical to have small signs on the barrier near the cliff edge and potentially larger signs in the car park of the cafe opposite (where Mr Charles' parked van was found): The latter would require the agreement of the cafe owners_ anticipate we will be able to have the signs installed on our own land before the Easter Bank Holiday in April. With regards to the suggestion that vegetation could be planted to prevent access to the cliff edge , we believe this would be difficult to achieve and counterproductive The exposed nature of the cliff top in this area limits the natural growth of shrubs and we feel it would not be possible to establish sufficient growth to prevent physical access to the cliff. The impact on the views that screening by vegetation would produce would, in our view, encourage visitors to circumvent such a barrier and put themselves in a potentially much more dangerous position, leading to greater chance of accidental trips and falls. National Trust President: HRH Puince of Wales Soulh West Region Regional Chair: Killerton House, Broadclyst Regional Direclor] Exeter, Devon EX5 3LE Tel: +44 (0)1392 881691 Regislered office:
Heelis, Kemnble Drive, Swindon, Wiltshire SN? 2NA Registered charily number 205846 28lh We The
Should you wish to, our local ranger team would be happy to meet on site to discuss any other practical measures that may be suggested: If this is something which YOu would like to do please contact the General Manager for South and Mid Cornwall; Bill Makin, on 01208 265228 who would be happy to set up meeting
Heelis, Kemnble Drive, Swindon, Wiltshire SN? 2NA Registered charily number 205846 28lh We The
Should you wish to, our local ranger team would be happy to meet on site to discuss any other practical measures that may be suggested: If this is something which YOu would like to do please contact the General Manager for South and Mid Cornwall; Bill Makin, on 01208 265228 who would be happy to set up meeting
Action Should Be Taken
In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and believe you and your organisation have the power to take such action and to work with other partnership agencies such as the Samaritans, Public Health and Cornwall Mental Health Services to review what extra preventative measures could be put in place. have sent a copy of this letter to these organisations so that they are aware of the concerns raised at the inquest:
Report Sections
Investigation and Inquest
On 5lh July commenced an investigation into the death of SIMON DENNIS CHARLES_ then aged 49. The investigation concluded at the end of the inquest on 13"h December 2016. The conclusion of the inquest was an Open Conclusion; the medical cause of death being massive head and chest injuries
Circumstances of the Death
Simon Charles was found dead at the foot of cliffs at Hells Mouth, Gwithian, Hayle at around 5.50 am on 3rd July 2016 after a concern for welfare search for him. He was found floating in the sea and was brought ashore by the lifeboat at St Ives where a paramedic recognized him dead formally at 7.29am. His locked van was found in the Hells Mouth car park at around 11.00 pm the evening before. He was last known to be alive at around 6.00 pm on 2nd July when he left his home address No suicide note was found but Hells Mouth is a known suicide location. He was suffering from depression and made a serious attempt to take his own life on 14th June 2016 by overdose_ He was supported by the mental health team and emergency help numbers were provided to him: Although everything pointed to his death being a suicide, the legal level of sure could not be established as due to lack of evidence an accidental fall could not be excluded.
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Data sourced from Courts and Tribunals Judiciary under the Open Government Licence.