Aaron Gordon was found face down in water off Marston Lane at Marston Marshes nature reserve, on the outskirts of Norwich.
Despite the efforts of members of the public and paramedics, the 22-year-old, who had worked as a removals man, died there from drowning.
An inquest into his death, held this week at Norfolk Coroner’s Court, harrowing details emerged of the long and tortuous waits that Mr Gordon had faced to receive support for his mental ill health.
He died less than a fortnight before he was due to attend a key appointment.
A TRAGIC DISCOVERY
Shortly before 7am on March 4 this year, a member of the public came across a black coat with a bank card inside a pocket along a footpath off Abinger Way, Eaton, that leads to Marston Marshes.
Moments later, he saw the body of Mr Gordon in the river. He pulled the young man out and attempted to give CPR.
As this was unfolding, another man, a runner who had found more items of clothing strewn across the path, also got involved to help.
Along with more passersby, they offered support and called 999. However, emergency services workers pronounced Mr Gordon dead at the scene.
An investigation began and the marshes were cordoned off. In the area, police found clothes, a mobile phone and a framed photograph, all of which led them to quickly identify Mr Gordon.
FAMILY’S HEARTBREAK
His mother, Wendy Goodall, told officers he had left a bag of clothes on her doorstep the previous night, which she had only discovered that morning.
She also said her son had shared a Facebook........