AN engineer who had a history of mental health problems drank a large amount of alcohol before hanging himself in the Lake District, it was told to an inquest.

Andrew Forrest, who lived in Manor Street, Accrington was found hanging from a tree in full public view at Waterhead, Ambleside, last year.

The hearing was told the previous day, April 21, police had taken the 45-year-old to West Cumberland Hospital, Whitehaven, for an assessment by psychiatrists.

Although they found a rope and penknife in his possession, he was rele-ased.

One of the three health professionals who carr-ied out tests, Dr Sugato Sarkar said: “He (Mr Forrest) was well pres-ented, clean shaven and he had good eye contact.

“We did acknowledge that he had been drinking some alcohol but there was no indication as to its effects. He was in good humour and animated. At that time I did not feel he had any signs of clinical depression.”

Mr Forrest’s wife, Kim, the mother of one of his three children, expressed her dismay at the testimony.

Speaking at the two day inquest in Kendal, she said: “I don’t know how you could have let him go. It was risky, the evidence that he had a rope should have set alarm bells ringing.”

But the coroner, Ian Smith, apportioned no blame. He said: “There were some signs for worry that things weren’t right, he had a rope and he had thrown his phone away, but he did comm-unicate well with the three health profess-ionals.

“None of them saw anything under the surface and they did their best to assess him thoroughly, and saw no reason to detain him against his will.”

Following the incident an investigation was carried out by Cumbria Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, and six ‘recommendations’ were highlighted in a subsequent report.

But Pamela Travis, who managed mental health in West Cumbria at the time of Mr Forrest’s death, added: “From the report I can see that the assessment carried out was thorough.”

The hearing was told Mr Forrest, of Manor Street, had a history of mental health and physical problems.

Delivering a narrative verdict, Mr Smith said: “Andrew Forrest died as a consequence of his own actions while intoxicated by alcohol and suffering from mental illness.”