Springfield patient found hung in loft (From Surrey Comet)

Springfield patient found hung in loft

7:20am Saturday 17th January 2009

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A patient at Springfield Hospital in Tooting hung himself at home after suffering from depression, an inquest found.

John Power, 53, had said he felt like jumping in front of a train, but assured hospital staff he was not serious.

The man, who worked as a gardener, was treated at the hospital during the daytime for his bipolar affective disorder, also known as manic depression.

Staff called police on Tuesday, November 4, concerned that Mr Power had missed appointments.

When officers and ambulance crews broke into his house in Trinity Road, Wandsworth, they found him hanging from a rafter in the loft.

Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said: “A coroner needs to be satisfied that a person intended to do it to record a verdict of suicide.

“I think here we have that evidence.”

He recorded a verdict of death from hanging at Westminster Coroner’s Court on Thursday.

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