Yahoo News Devon dad and cricketer found dead at storage unit
A well-known keen cricketer and rugby player for teams in Devon and father-of-two was tragically found passed away in a storage unit, an inquest has heard. Gary Sizmur, 35, was reported missing after he failed to return after leaving his home in Okehampton to attend rugby training.
The kitchen fitter was found the following morning, September 13, 2023, at around 5.45am, by a delivery driver after unlocking a storage unit used by Westwood South West Limited in Exeter Road Industrial Estate, Okehampton. The inquest at Exeter Coroner’s Court on May 1, heard Mr Sizmur had access to it as he worked for the company.
Mr Sizmur, who was born in Exeter, lived with his wife and their two children in a house he renovated and was said to have had dreams of one day owning a small holding. In a statement read out during the hearing, his wife told how they had begun a relationship in 2009, married five years later and went on to have a son and daughter together.
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She recalled: "When we first got together he was a go-getter, driven and motivated but he never settled and regularly changed jobs, vehicles and even rugby and cricket clubs as he was always striving for something better."
She continued: "He was always looking for something perfect that in reality did not exist and had a crippling lack of self-worth and could never achieve what he wanted to be."
The impact it had on his mental health resulted in two previous suicide attempts and she admitted it had 'felt inevitable' that one day he would do serious harm to himself.
She said: "Above all he would not seek help or admit he needed help as he felt no one could change who he was or how he felt about himself."
In the months leading up to his death, she recalled his mental health had been 'spiralling' but that she had not had any concerns for his welfare when he left their home on the evening of September 12, 2023, to attend his usual weekly rugby training session.
However, the inquest heard he instead went to visit a friend who told in a statement that although he had been tearful he had not indicated he wanted to harm himself and left just before 10pm.
Shortly after he sent messages to to his wife and his sister - who he was close to and was in daily contact with - indicating he would harm himself but then became uncontactable. He was immediately reported missing to police who conducted a search for him assisted by family and friends.
The cause of his death was confirmed as hanging. Mr Sizmur's GP confirmed in a statement he had presented with depressive symptoms in 2021 and 2021, and had sought the help of free local NHS service Talkworks.
Recording a conclusion of suicide, Alison Longhorn, area coroner for Exeter and Greater Devon, said: "Gary had some history of mental ill health and was dealing with some challenging life events in the months before his death."
Offering her condolences to his loved ones, she said: "It must have been dreadful to lose him in this way."
Following his death, many rugby teams across the county held a minute’s silence before kick-off in memory of the popular centre who also played cricket for Bridestowe. North Tawton RFC postponed their South West League Counties Two game with Exmouth 2nd XV, and Okehampton announced that they would hold a minute’s silence before their next two matches.
North Tawton issued a statement which said: “We have lost one of our family members. We are absolutely devastated and in shock.
“Sizzy was a much-loved member by everyone in our small squad and will be sorely missed by all.”
Last month, a friend of Gary's competed in the Manchester Marathon in his memory and in aid of Devo suicide charity Pete's Dragons. He raised over £1,300.
