Burnley man killed himself at Royal Blackburn Hospital

Mr John Knowles (59), of Brunshaw Avenue, died on August 23rd. He had hanged himself using the belt from his dressing gown on Friday, August 16th, while a patient on Ward C4.

An inquest at Blackburn Coroner’s Court heard that the incident happened the night before he was due to be assessed by a mental health nurse.

The cause of death was given as cerebral infarction caused by hanging.

Coroner Mr Michael Singleton recorded a conclusion that Mr Knowles killed himself.

He said: “Shortly before 11pm on Friday, August 16th, 2013, John Knowles, who was a patient on Ward C4 of the Royal Blackburn Hospital, went into a bathroom and suspended himself from the door handle using the belt from his dressing gown.

“Despite being revived, he sustained a hypoxic brain injury and died several days later.”