A ‘smiling’ Sheffield dad, who felt ‘let down’ by mental health services, accidentally died in a river.
Peter Percival, 53, of Rivelin Valley Road, tradesman, was found dead in the River Rivelin on the morning of 17 July 2020, Sheffield Coroners’ Court has heard today.
The inquest held at Medico-Legal Center found the dad of nine, who had a history of mental health difficulties, had been referred to Northern General in March 2020 following reports that he was feeling hurting himself and others, however there was a delay in picking up his case as nurses were busy.
Mental health nurse Imelda Murphy, from the Home Treatment Team that saw Mr Percival, said: “Mr Percival’s continued mental health difficulties were exacerbated as he struggled to engage with recovery services after he had been seen in hospital each time.”
She added he always felt he had been ‘let down’ by the mental health services, something she linked to the fact that his care coordinator was replaced with one with whom didn’t work as well.
Mr Percival’s wife Janet said: “Peter had a traumatic childhood and he was living with demons from that every day.
“He was the life and soul. He would help anybody and would sort out anybody’s problems except his own.”
Peter Percival
The Assistant Coroner Katie Dickinson heard Mr Percival said in a phone call to mental health services that he had taken an overdose and had alcohol ‘and had done that with the intention to end his life’, while walking to ‘clear his head’ on the evening of 16 July,
Assistant Coroner Ms Dickinson pointed out Mr Percival had not in fact taken the overdose, as toxicologists later discovered.
She said: “I think he had been out walking when he likely lost his footing at the top of the river bank and fell down into the river.
"He clearly hadn’t taken the overdose of tablets so I think his call was a cry for help. Maybe he planned to go but these sad events overtook him.”
Assistant Coroner Ms Dickinson found Mr Percival died an accidental death.
Mr Percival’s daughter Leanne said: “He was the clown. He could make anybody laugh and never stopped smiling.
"They say it’s the ones who are the saddest that are the ones who try to make everybody else happy.”
Comments