A PRE-inquest review into the death of an 18-year-old heard he ran away from hospital.

The body of Scott McPhee was found by police officers near Royal Blackburn Hospital at around 8.20pm on Friday, August 9.

Mr McPhee had been reported missing and was last seen leaving the hospital at around 11pm on Wednesday, August 7. At the time, a police spokesman said there were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding his death.

At the pre-inquest review, at Preston Coroner’s Court yesterday which considered witnesses and evidence and looked at setting a date for the full inquest, assistant coroner for Lancashire and Blackburn with Darwen, Simon Jones, said Mr McPhee had run away from Royal Blackburn Hospital.

He said: “I want to know when Scott ran away, what was said to him, what was done by security staff and by the family and police.”

The court heard Mr McPhee had been involved with Lancashire Care Foundation Trust and Inspire before his death. Mr Jones said he would look at holding a full inquest over two days, possibly three, early next year.