Man's devastating final 19-word 999 call before falling to his death from bridge
A businessman blamed emergency services in his final words before falling to his death from a bridge, an inquest heard.
Nicholas Boulton jumped from the dual-carriageway footbridge in Talke, Staffordshire while on bail at a Travelodge as he faced a domestic abuse probe.
In a 19-word 999 call placed minutes before his death on December 28 2021, the 64-year-old told a dispatcher "I really don't care", adding, "you have let me down".
Hours before, Mr Boulton had been questioned by police and released, before he then placed two emergency calls for an ambulance - neither of which could be sent due to availability, Stoke Live reports.
Neither Staffordshire Police and West Midlands Ambulance Service did anything which could have caused Mr Boulton's tragic death, the hearing found.
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An inquest into Mr Boulton's death heard Mr Boulton, referred to by family as Nick, was struck by a car in the fall and suffered a "devastating brain injury", dying later that day.
Mr Boulton had placed two calls for an ambulance before telling a 999 operator he 'didn't care anymore' (Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel)The police force's professional standards department told the hearing that Mr Boulton had been found drunk at an address and given a verbal warning in the early hours of Christmas Eve, 2021, after a person called to report their partner was being aggressive.
Officers returned that evening after reports from the same person to say their partner was attacking them, the force's case manager Nigel Warrilow told the coroner's court.
Recounting the timeline of events, Mr Warrilow said: "At 12.05am on December 25, officers attended and found that Nick was intoxicated.
"He explained to officers that he suffered from depression. He said he had no thoughts of suicide. He was released at 11.46am that morning.
"The following evening, at 8.12pm, he was arrested for assault after another call and was taken to hospital.
"At 7.11am the following day, he was returned from the hospital and went to police custody.
At 4.39pm, he was released from custody and issued a domestic violence prevention notice, although temporary accommodation had been booked for him at the Travelodge in Talke.
"At 12.14am on December 28, officers from Staffordshire Police received a call from Nick saying, 'Hi. Just called to say goodbye from me to you. I really don't care. You have let me down'.
"At 12.44am officers arrived at the scene to find a male body in the road on the A500. He was taken to the Royal Stoke University Hospital where he died the same day."
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North Staffordshire assistant coroner Duncan Richie delivered a suicide verdict.
Mr Richie said: "The medical cause of death is that he suffered from a devastating brain injury after suffering from a very serious collision with a car on the A500.
"A CT scan revealed multiple fractures to his torso and bleeding in his brain. The medical staff decided his condition was terminal and he passed away on December 28.
"A few days earlier he was arrested late on Christmas Eve and was intoxicated.
"He told custody staff that he did not have current thoughts of self-harm. However, a few days later he was arrested for assault. He told officers he had taken a number of paracetamol tablets.
"After being arrested, he was discharged from hospital and taken for questioning. After consulting with mental health staff, officers were satisfied he could be released.
"Nick's deliberate actions caused his death. I am satisfied this death can be ruled as suicide."
Referring to the role of police and paramedics, the coroner added: "Nick said repeatedly he wanted to take his own life. It was heard how he was dealt with in a way to calm him down.
"Ambulance demand was extremely high and hospital handover at the time was seven hours.
"WMAS was unfortunate that night but I cannot find causation. My findings will not include neglect from WMAS but that does not make his death any less tragic.
"As for the involvement of Staffordshire Police, we have the comment that he felt let down by Staffordshire Police. It is clear to me his arrest was very much at the forefront of his mind.
"But considering why he did what he did lies outside the scope of the inquest. Considering that there was no misconduct found, there was no cause or link to his death.
"I don't find there was neglect on the advising of his release from custody.
"The police did what they could but they were unable to get to him in time. It is unfortunate but I do not find failings of the police in response to his goodbye call."
Mr Boulton's grieving relatives have paid tribute to their loved-one.
A family spokesman said: "He was very nice and caring. He was very fond of animals and his God-children, if you were to meet him and ask for help he would always give 100 per cent.
"Unfortunately due to the depression and alcohol, that changed him. That was not the real Nick. His funeral was cast all across the world."
For anyone who is struggling or needs someone to talk to, Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on 116 123.
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