Man's death from fall ruled as misadventure - inquest

A man who fell from a building died as a result of misadventure, an inquest determined.

Tom James, 26, died at Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, in June 2024 - 15 days after falling from a building in Great Yarmouth.

Over a week-long inquest at Norfolk Coroner's Court, a jury found that his death was a result of misadventure but noted that his diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia would have "contributed" to his death.

Earlier in the week, the inquest heard that Mr James, who was born in Lowestoft, Suffolk, had a history of mental health issues.

The court heard that Mr James had been out on two hours of unescorted leave from Northgate Hospital in the town, where he was a patient, at the time of the incident.

Speaking after the inquest, his brother Michael described Mr James as having a "happy, cheeky smile."

Area coroner Samantha Goward praised the family for listening to "the worst of evidence with incredible dignity".

His medical cause of death was recorded as traumatic brain injury and adult respiratory distress syndrome after an unwitnessed fall.

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