Yahoo News Plea for more mental health support after dad stabs himself 27 times at Clumber Park
The wife of a father-of-two who died after stabbing himself 27 times at a Nottinghamshire park has pleaded for more mental health support. Liam Rushland, 38 and from Doncaster, was found dead at Clumber Park on November 29, 2023, after being reported missing by his wife, Sarah, on November 27.
An inquest hearing into Mr Rushland's death at Nottingham Council House on Wednesday, June 19, heard how the father-of-two left home on the morning of November 27. He drove to Tesco, where he bought a bottle of vodka and a pack of cigarettes, and then drove to Clumber Park, where his body was found 48 hours later.
Mrs Rushland reported him missing at around 4pm the same day, after he failed to answer his phone throughout the day. His body was found 500 yards from his car, which was parked at one of the park entrances, and had sustained 27 injuries to the neck, chest, abdomen and legs.
Mr Rushland had suffered from depression for "at least the last 12 months" prior to his death. This was connected to constant and persistent stomach pain and doctors being unable to identify the cause and diagnose his condition.
The court was told Mr Rushland had previously attempted to harm himself and take his own life in the months prior to his death, saying once that he "wanted to die and did not want to be a burden". A small knife was found next to his body, as well as the one-litre vodka bottle, which was three-quarters empty.
Coroner Laurinda Bower told the court that no evidence of any natural diseases was found to have contributed to Mr Rushland's death, and that alcohol toxicity also did not play a part in it. A "thorough" investigation was also conducted to rule out any third-party involvement.
Mr Rushland's approximate location was determined after his car triggered an ANPR interchange at 8.22am on November 27, making it "clear" he was heading in the direction of Clumber Park. His last use of his mobile phone, which was connected to a mast in the area, was at 8.26am.
A dog unit and a drone were used during the search and his body was then found at 10.35am on November 29. DC Ryan Lambert, of Nottinghamshire Police, was present at the hearing on Wednesday and confirmed he was satisfied no crime took place regarding Mr Rushland's death.
A broader investigation into his state of mind was therefore launched, given his long history of anxiety and depression. In 2020, he attended his GP with a month-long history of gastrointestinal symptoms.
This led to three years of multiple referrals to various specialists to seek to understand the reason for his persistent abdominal pain. After being diagnosed with celiac disease he reported his symptoms had dissipated but then returned, which had a negative impact on his mental health as he felt dismissed by health professionals and he was frustrated at the lack of diagnosis.
Coroner Bower said: "Liam's case is absolutely tragic. He was clearly in a chronic spiral of decline where his mental health was affected by the frustration he felt in not receiving his diagnosis, with his symptoms clearly having an impact on the quality of his life.
"I am satisfied that he died by his own hand and that his intention at the time of inflicting the wounds to his person was to bring about his death. I am satisfied of this because of the number of injuries, the lack of opportunities he had taken for him to be found and saved, leaving his phone in his car and not telling anyone where he was going.
"I looked at his past history of self-harm and this was a new methodology, a very different form of harm from taking an overdose and arriving in good time to the emergency department. Liam would have known the fatality of the injuries he was inflicting and, therefore, on this occasion, I do believe it was his intention to bring about his death."
Mrs Rushland paid an emotional tribute to her husband, with the couple sharing two daughters. She highlighted the need for better mental health support, as Mr Rushland was on a waiting list for talking therapy at the time of his death.
She said: "Liam was an amazing father and husband. The loss we have endured has been awful. Our children are devastated they will never see their daddy again. This is something I feel could have been prevented if we had been listened to.
"Liam tried to commit suicide a couple of months before. This was a cry for help, as when he did it, he rang me straight away. I asked for him to be sectioned when he was in hospital but was told his mental health was not bad enough even after I told them he will do it again and that he needed help.
"We tried everything we could do to help him but it just wasn't enough. I personally think that Liam did what he did as another cry for help. I suffer every day thinking 'what if I could have done more?'
"I now have to raise our two beautiful girls alone and I let them know every day how much he loved them. He was just too poorly to deal with all the pain and mental health.
"I feel there should be more support in place to help people with mental health, as I feel there is not enough being done. A six-month waiting list for someone to be seen to get help is far too long."
