A CORONER has recorded an open verdict into the death of a hospital patient who was found face down in a bath.

Simon Jackson, 39, was discovered at Peasley Cross Hospital lying face down in a bath with no heartbeat on the afternoon of December 2, 2011.

Following attempts to resuscitate him he was taken to Whiston Hospital where his death was confirmed.

An inquest at St Helens Town hall heard how Simon, from Ashton-in-Makerfield, had suffered from a long history of mental health issues and depression after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 1995.

The hearing was told how Simon was found to have an abrasion on the back of his neck which was later judged to be a superficial injury. And police stated how there had been no evidence of a disturbance at the scene and that the cause of death was not ascertained.

A post-mortem was unable to determine the cause of Simon’s death and there was no indication of drowning.

In addition, toxicology reports, which found traces of both cetelaprom and amisulpride, medications which Simon had been taking, did not indicate that the drugs contributed in any way to his death.

Speaking at the inquest, Simon’s mother said that her son had complained of being unwell in the lead-up to his death and that she felt that “the system had let him down".

Mrs Jackson said that Simon “wasn’t himself” in the days before his death and “thought he’d be better in hospital".

She told the inquest: “I visited him three times and on my last visit I saw that his eyes were bulging. I don’t believe they ever got his medication right.

“I believe if a better level of care had been applied maybe he would still be alive.”

Coroner Christopher Sumner said how it will never be known what happened during the 20 minutes that Mr Jackson spent in the bath.

“We will never know what killed him. That is the great tragedy in this that you don’t know what he died from and will never know,” he told Mrs Jackson.

He delivered his open verdict stating “the evidence does not show how he came about his death".