Drowned Wrexham man may have jumped in river after sleeping bag caught fire

Police at the scene pic 170916wxm.

A man found drowned in a river probably jumped in after his sleeping bag caught fire and burned his face, an inquest heard today.

The body of Mark Leon Davies was found floating in the River Clywedog in Erddig Country Park, Wrexham, by a dog walker on Saturday September 17 last year.

A makeshift camp, where the 37-year-old was living, was discovered nearby with scorched bedding apparently placed too close to a fire an inquest in Ruthin heard.

A post-mortem investigation by Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers found there were superficial burns to Mr Davies’ face with amphetamine drugs and diazepam – used to treat anxiety disorders – detected in his body.

It was impossible to say how long Mr Davies, had been in the water, but the condition of the body indicated it had been some time, he said.

Dr Rodgers added: “He may have been experiencing the come down effect after taking amphetamine

“The sleeping bag was too close and caught fire. The most likely scenario is, he may have panicked, jumped straight into the river to put himself out, the current has taken him and he’s not been able to get out.”

The cause of death was given as drowning with superficial burns a contributory factor.

Mr Davies, whose brother and dad had also died affecting him, had a history of drug related psychiatric problems.

He would often hear voices and experience vivid hallucinations after taking cocaine and amphetamines, which sometimes lead to the police being called, the inquest heard.

Family and friends tried to help him and his mum Dianne Williams believed he should have been sectioned.

But the inquest heard health workers did everything they could to treat Mr Davies.

He would get better after the drugs left his system.

However, Mr Davies would start using them again, fail to take his medication, leading to a “revolving door” in and out of hospital, Assistant Coroner for North Wales East and Central, Nicola Jones, said.

Ms Jones recorded a verdict of accidental death.

She told the family: “It is clear that you did your utmost to help your son.

“You took difficult decisions, rang the police when needed and made sure he was kept safe when in a state of psychosis.

“He was in a circle of behaviour that couldn’t be broken.”

Ms Williams said her son would be sadly missed.