Coroner records suicide conclusion for Whalley man

Mr Neil Featherburn was found at his home in Whalley on June 30th and pronounced dead at the scene.

Senior Coroner for Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley Mr Michael Singleton presided over the inquest, attended by members of Mr Featherburn’s family.

The court heard evidence that Mr Featherburn had a history of depression, going back more than 15 years and had been prescribed a variety of anti-depressants for his condition over that period of time.

He had also recently suffered a heart attack and undergone surgery to insert a stent.

A victim of the Whalley floods in December, Mr Featherburn had, said friends, played an active part in helping people who were also affected and that in turn had helped him start to feel better in himself.

The court heard evidence from family and friends which suggested that Mr Featherburn had seemed to suffer extra anxiety as a result of the heart attack and was worried about another upcoming procedure which he was due to undergo.

Giving evidence to the court, Mr Christopher Clegg, a professional dog walker, confirmed that he had found Mr Featherburn’s body hanging from a tree in the garden of his home in Limefield Avenue, Whalley, at around 10-10am on the morning of June 30th, after earlier picking up his dog for it’s morning walk.

Dr Richard Prescott, Consultant at the Royal Blacburn Hospital who conducted a post mortem told the court that he found the cause of death to be vagal inhibition.

The coroner recorded a conclusion of suicide.