Yahoo News Man who fell to his death from Stena Line ferry was 'let down' says mum
The mum of a man who fell to his death from a ferry says he was "let down" by the authorities and by an Irish police officer.
Margaret Burnell said she did everything possible to get help for her son Peter Foden, who had mental health problems, but was "not listened to" by authorities after reporting her son missing from his flat in Fairfield Avenue, Rhyl.
Speaking on her behalf at an inquest in Ruthin, Mrs Burnell's close friend Jenny Taylor said: “She did her absolute best to get him the support he needed. She was on the phone every day but wasn’t listened to.”
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The inquest heard that on January 9 this year, Peter, 44, was found by PC Jonathan Black in Belfast. He had a suitcase and just £1 on his person. He reportedly told the officer he did not intend to self-harm. PC Black said: “I didn’t feel there was any risk. He was happy to return home to his family.”
After learning he was in Belfast, Mrs Burnell bought Peter a ticket to Birkenhead on a Stena ferry. On January 20, she went to meet him off the ferry and raised the alarm when he did not disembark. His case and shoes were found on the ship and CCTV footage showed him standing outside the railings on Deck 7, 18 metres above the water line.
Emergency services including Merseyside Police, HM Coastguard and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution were called and a search operation was launched. Peter was airlifted out of the water off the Liverpool Bar and taken to Aintree University Hospital but died later that morning. The cause of death was given as hypothermia due to drowning.
The inquest heard that Peter, a talented artist, had suffered from paranoia and had some engagement with mental health and substance abuse services, but was believed to have the capacity to make his own decisions.
Miss Taylor said that Mrs Burnell had become increasingly worried about his isolation and raised her concerns with his mental health support worker and GP.
Miss Taylor said: “Margaret was almost begging for help. She wants people to listen to the family.”
She added that PC Black "should have realised" that Peter was vulnerable and unfit to travel alone on the ferry. She added: "I would have expected the police to take more positive action as he had no money and nowhere to stay."
Recording a conclusion of suicide, John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, said that although it was not part of his remit he hoped that Mrs Burnell would continue to pursue her concerns.
Peter's picture was shared publicly on Facebook and with the ECHO by Ian G Foden, who described Peter as "a troubled mind with a beautiful soul."
Following Peter's death, his brother Ian launched a Go Fund Me fundraising page which raised over £3,000 to cover the cost of Peter's funeral and give him "a beautiful and deserving send off".
Ian said: "We will be forever grateful to the Crews of the Lifeboats and the Coastguard for bringing Pete home that day and for doing their best for him."
He added that Peter would be "greatly missed by so many people, if only he knew how many people cared and loved him."
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