A Nottinghamshire family are awaiting answers after a father died in a steep fall. On Monday (November 28) an inquest was held with a coroner examining evidence to determine whether 62-year-old Michael Duray, from Selston, had died accidentally or took his life in Derbyshire.
The father was found unresponsive at the bottom of a steep bank in Matlock on the morning of May 11, 2022. He had been reported missing by his daughter Claire at 9pm on May 10, with his vehicle found in a nearby car park.
Gordon Clow, Assistant Coroner for Nottinghamshire, read the results of Michael's post mortem examination before hearing witness statements during the hearing at Nottingham Council House. Mr Clow explained the examination took place on May 19, with the post mortem finding Michael had extensive traumatic injuries to the body, consistent with a fall from a height.
The cause of death was given as trauma, with him suffering from hypovolemic shock, a condition in which severe blood or other fluid loss makes the heart unable to pump enough blood to the body, after falling. Detective Constable Robin Mills of Derbyshire Constabulary gave a brief outline of the force's findings on the incident.
"Police were first called on May 10 after Claire [Michael's daughter] reported she had cause for concern at 9pm. The DI felt there was nothing at all that marked it as suspicious," DC Mills said.
The last confirmed sighting of Michael was at 4pm on Whitewood Way, near High Tor, on May 10. A witness told Police that Michael had knocked on his door and asked for some water, adding that he appeared cheerful and he had no concerns about his welfare at the time.
DC Mills said there were viewing areas and fencing in place, but this would not stop someone who wanted to go off the cliff. He added people near the edge would know they were taking a risk, but added: "There was nothing on his phone that showed he was under any stress or indicating that he wished to take his life."
Stephen Laird, of Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust's Early Intervention Psychosis Service, said Michael had scored very low on indicators of psychotic behaviour when put through a screening process. However, a family member suggested to the coroner that Michael likely told the examiner 'what they wanted to hear'.
The inquest heard that Mr Duray had expressed suicidal thoughts in the months before his death, although these were described by witnesses and the coroner as 'cries for help' over anxieties about his physical health. Michael was worried about lead and asbestos in his home, and complained about a 'fuzzy' feeling in his head as well as tinnitus.
Andrew Kingley, a clinical lead with Nottinghamshire Healthcare Trust's crisis team, outlined Michael had previously walked in his GP setting without an appointment and told them he had suicidal thoughts.
Assistant Coroner Clow added: "There was quite a pattern of a cry for help. Nobody knows what his thought processes were on the day, but if he were to end his life very clearly that would [be] quite different to his chronology up until that point." The inquest will continue on Wednesday, November 30.
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