A man who was found dead in the River Wear in Durham city centre intended to take his own life, a coroner has ruled.
David Hall, who was 55, was reported missing from his home address in Shiremoor, North Tyneside, on September 11.
Emergency services were called to landing area at The Boathouse in Durham when a body was found nine days later and police established it was Mr Hall.
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An inquest held at Crook Coroners’ Court this week heard Mr Hall was experiencing financial difficulties when he died and had run up debts with people he knew.
The hearing was told the father-of-one was estranged from his daughter and was an odd job man, fitting bathrooms and kitchens, but was struggling to keep on top of his work.
The inquest heard he was regular gambler and also had issues with alcohol and his mental health.
His partner, Kerry Campbell, raised the alarm when she realised he was missing from the home they shared.
She said dog had been locked in the bathroom and Mr Hall had disconnected their CCTV system before he had gone out.
She said he had not taken his phone, wallet, keys or tobacco with him.
She said: “I texted him to find out where he was and I heard the phone go off on the bench.
“Nobody had seen him so we went out looking for him.”
Mr Hall was reported missing at 3pm that day and a week later, at Earsdon, near Whitley Bay, a dog walker said he thought he had seen a man matching his description.
He appeared to be crying and petted the dog before telling the owner: ‘I love dogs.’
It is not known how Mr Hall got to Durham or how he came to be in the water but police are satisfied there was no third party involvement.
A subsequent search of Mr Hall’s browsing history on his phone revealed he had been looking for information on how to take his own life.
A post mortem examination found the cause of death was immersion in water.
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Assistant coroner for County Durham Leslie Hamilton ruled Mr Hall’s death was a result of suicide.
He said: “He was in a low mood. He was agitated and wasn’t keeping up with his work.
“He certainly had financial issues and left home in usual circumstances.
“It would seem to be a deliberate attempt to take his own life.
“That is the most likely explanation.”
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