A WIRRAL man described as a “beautiful soul” had been suffering with his mental health before he tragically took his own life, an inquest heard.

Colin Edwards, 40, from Birkenhead was reported missing from the Woodchurch area of Birkenhead on Thursday, January 11 of this year.

Merseyside Police released a series of appeals asking for the public's help locating Colin including appeals for dashcam and CCTV footage.

However, despite extensive enquiries, the search was stood down after Merseyside Police confirmed a body was found near to Arrowe Brook Lane in Irby on Monday, January 29.

READ: Family and friends pay tribute to ‘beautiful soul’ Colin Edwards

Colin, who was an IT consultant, was found dead in a small body of water in a wooded area near Arrowe Brook Lane. The body was identified by police by using photograph identification and confirmed by family to be that of Colin.

An inquest hearing, held on Thursday, April 25 in Gerard Majella Courthouse in Liverpool, was told Colin had been suffering from psychosis and that his mental health had been deteriorating “significantly”.

Colin, who was a patient at Neston Medical Centre, had previously been seen for anxiety, depression and insomnia.

On December 13, 2023, the practice received a letter from Colin’s sister, Kate Webb, stating her concern for her brother’s mental health and that he had been referring to himself as “Jesus” and that he was going to “save the world”.

A statement read out in court from Colin’s GP said that Colin was not “surprised” when she rang him on December 19 and explained that his sister had expressed concern. She asked Colin if he would attend a GP appointment the following day which he agreed.

When Colin attended the GP appointment he was described as “calm, clean and well presented”. He told his GP that he had found the breakdown of his previous relationship hard and that she had taken money from his account, but he assured he “no longer believed he was Jesus”.

The statement added: “I felt he was vulnerable, but he was not expressing any thoughts of suicide or harm at the time.”

It was agreed that Colin would return to his GP in January.

Throughout January, multiple calls were made by Kate and Colin’s father, Neil Edwards to Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Foundation Trust CWP’s First Response Service, a 24/7 service for people experiencing mental health crises, asking for advice on what to do about Colin’s deteriorating mental health.

It was suggested that they ring an ambulance to bring Colin to A+E. Colin’s details were not taken at the time.

On January 8, after calling the crisis team. Colin attended Arrowe Park Hospital mental health clinic but refused assessment and left to go to his partner’s house.

Colin’s dad brought Colin to his flat in Birkenhead. At 7am the following morning Colin left the address and switched off his mobile phone. Colin’s dad rang Colin’s GP to tell them he had gone missing.

On January 10 at around 8.04am, Colin’s dad informed the response service that Colin had returned home and gone to sleep but had previously stated that “the devil was inside him” and that he wanted to put a “stake through his heart”. Colin then left at 3am.

Colin was then reported missing to the police where he was initially assessed as a medium risk but was shortly moved to high risk after police downloaded his laptop’s search history which showed he had been looking up suicide.

The last sighting of Colin was captured on CCTV on January 11 where he could be seen heading toward a footpath by Arrowe Park.

A search was then carried out covering a 300 metre radius.

The decision was then made to search a small body of water off Arrowe Brook Lane where police located a male in the water which was confirmed as Colin.

READ: Body found in search for missing man Colin Edwards

Nurse Jenkins, a registered mental health nurse, appeared in court to give evidence on behalf of the trust. When questioned she said Colin’s thoughts about him being Jesus suggested Colin was experiencing a “psychosis” and that his reality “wasn’t the same as everyone else.”

She also confirmed a full investigation into the issues Colin’s family had experienced with the services was being carried out and that the trust would be working with the family throughout the process.

When asked what Colin was like as a person, Colin’s sister Kate said: “He used to copy everything I would say when we were younger. He used to drive me mad. We had a great childhood we were out and about every day he loved nature and animals. He was a great artist. It’s just really hard. What’s keeping us going is remembering the good times.”

A friend of Colin, who was also present in court, said: “Colin was the funniest person I have ever met. He never said a negative thing about anything ever.”

Colin’s dad said: “Ten years ago he was a different person. Then he became isolated. He was always a friendly vulnerable person. The fact that this has happened in mind bowing.”

Concluding the inquest, area Coroner, Ms Anita Bhardwaj, said: “On January 29, Colin died in a field off Arrowe Brook Lane. Colin was a 40-year-old man whose mental health had been deteriorating significantly.

“Since December 11, he had a number of interactions with Cheshire and Wirral Partnership Trust where there were numerous missed opportunities to gather vital information about Colin which were further exuberated by not involving his family.

“It is impossible to say what the outcome would have been if he had some proactive intervention as that would be speculation.

“The last time Colin was seen on CCTV was on January 29th when he was found deceased in a small body of water. There is supportive evidence of drowning.

“I accept Colin died as a result of immersion in water. There were no suspicious markings and there is no evidence on how he ended up in the water.

“It is more likely than not that he entered the water with the intention of taking his own life. It is impossible to say if intervention would have stopped it.”

“I do feel upon the balance that he entered the water intentionally so therefore I rule his cause of death as died by suicide.”

Handing down a conclusion of suicide, Ms Bhardwaj, added: “I offer my absolute condolences. I am not going to pretend I know what you’re going through because I don’t. We are never conditioned to lose a child before ourselves I wish there was a wand I could cast upon you to take it all away.

“Remember him for who he was. I am so sorry for your loss.”

She also thanked Nurse Jenkins for her “candid responses and honesty” that she put before the court.

If you have been affected by the issues raised in this article, or you are struggling with your mental health, help is available.

Please call Samaritans for free on 116 123 or go to samaritans.org.