A Warrington resident, Darren Wakelin, died at Beachy Head. An inquest concluded his death was suicide due to injuries.
An inquest began at Warrington Coroner’s Court. Jacqueline Devonish opened it last August. She is the senior coroner for Cheshire. Darren was 63 years old. Darren was born in Kettering.
He worked as a seller. His death was unnatural. His family had reported him missing. The inquest was paused for more work. It resumed this month. Then, they formally concluded it.
The inquest heard about August 11, 2024. Darren was found dead at the cliff’s base. A person saw Darren taking pictures. He stood on the cliff edge.
The person glanced away and back again. Darren was gone from where he stood. But, his camera stayed behind on the ground. Police found his car using cameras. The cameras read license plates automatically. They spotted the car at 6:05 a.m.
Darren’s marriage ended in June 2024. It lasted for 29 years. He moved out on August 3. He gave his money to someone. He felt helpless. He felt lonely and stressed. This was due to losing money and the split.
He had threatened suicide before. But, he never acted on it. A mental health team saw him on August 9. He threatened to jump off a bridge. It was in north Wales. He said his life would change. He agreed to get support. This happened on August 9, 2024.
The coroner considered the location of death. They said it was important. Darren set down his camera. Then, he went over the cliff edge. The cliff had thick fog around it. Police were sure his death was not suspicious.
The inquest happened at Warrington Coroner’s Court. Paramedics confirmed his death at 8:36 a.m. His death was due to multiple injuries. Coroner Devonish ruled it as suicide. She offered condolences. This was for Darren’s loved ones.