A grieving man who died after falling from a motorway bridge intended to take his own life, an coroner has concluded. Gary Kelly, from Denton, Tameside, passed away in December 2021 after falling from a bridge over the M67.
Stockport Coroners' Court previously heard Mr Kelly had been struggling 'emotionally, financially, and physically' following the death of his long-term partner Philip in October, 2021.
Mr Kelly expressed suicidal thoughts shortly after the tragedy, as well as two days before his own death, the court heard. Senior coroner Alison Mutch recorded a conclusion of suicide. She said Mr Kelly's loss had proven 'catastrophic'.
On the final morning of the three-day inquest, the court heard Mr Kelly was referred for grief counselling by his GP and had been referred to social services on a number of occasions due to 'stress' and 'anxiety' around his financial situation. Mr Kelly didn't get bereavement counselling or support, despite those referrals.
Ms Mutch said Mr Kelly was 'batted back and forth' between his GP and adult social care services 'as if nobody was quite sure what to do with him'.
Sophie Colgan, from the integrated urgent care team at Tameside council, said her team was aware of Mr Kelly's case, but had effectively closed his file after he twice declined access to services offered by staff.
She said adult social care services do not offer grief or bereavement counselling, but staff would 'signpost' to a GP if that was needed.
Mr Kelly, the court heard, said he had already been referred for grief counselling through his GP in early October. His GP referred him back to social services later that month, but his case was closed again after Mr Kelly said 'nothing had changed' since his initial assessment.
Social services were then 'made aware' of Mr Kelly's case again on December 17, after he went to Tameside Hospital and was seen by a member of staff who was 'keen to ensure' he had access to grief counselling. Ms Colgan said the counselling was 'for the GP to action'.
"There is a bit of an element of him being batted back and forth between you and the GP," Ms Mutch said. "It is as if nobody was quite sure what to do with him - it's almost like he didn't quite fit into any of the areas you have got."
Mr Kelly was assessed by senior mental health practitioner Adeniyi Adenuga the day before his death. He said he was 'convinced' Mr Kelly knew where to access help if he needed it, and that he had told him he no longer felt suicidal.
Mr Adenuga said Mr Kelly seemed 'relaxed' during their 45 minute conversation. He said Mr Kelly told him he was in touch with adult social care services, and that he discharged him with a care plan for him to follow if his mental health deteriorated.
Concluding, Ms Mutch said the 'thread' that ran through the inquest was 'that of loss and bereavement'. She said Mr Kelly had to contend with worry over losing his home as his partner's will couldn't be located.
"The loss of his long-term partner of nearly 30 years was a catastrophic event in his life," she said. "It undermined the foundation on which he had built his life for many years. What is clear is the impact of grief and loss on an individual can never be understimated."
She said it was 'clear' that staff from numerous agencies recognised that Mr Kelly was 'struggling to deal with grief', but that 'nobody quite knew where to refer him'.
Ms Mutch will write a prevention of future deaths report into access to bereavement counselling in Tameside.
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