Drew Howe

I am Chris Morris, Area Coroner for Manchester South.

On 3rd February 2023, an inquest was opened into the death of Drew Howe who was found dead on 19th October 2022 in a Heavy Goods Vehicle parked on the A18 in Lincolnshire, aged 25 years. The investigation concluded with an inquest which I heard on 25th April 2023. A post mortem examination confirmed that Mr Howe died as a consequence of: 1)a) Suspension by a Ligature around the Neck. The conclusion of the inquest was one of Suicide.

Mr Howe was found dead on 19th October 2022 on the A18 in Lincolnshire having suspended himself by the neck with a ligature in the back of his lorry. Mr Howe had experienced a dramatic deterioration in his mental health and had sought specialist help on numerous occasions. At the time of his death, Mr Howe was awaiting a further assessment by the Military Veterans Service having been discharged by the Access Team without any diagnosis or treatment plan being in place.

CORONERS CONCERN During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed matters giving rise to concern. In my opinion there is a risk that future deaths will occur unless action is taken. In the circumstances it is my statutory duty to report to you. The MATTERS OF CONCERN are as follows. The Trust’s own investigation into events leading to Mr Howe’s death did not consider the full extent of his contacts with mental health services, lacked any meaningful degree of critical analysis of events, and omitted to seek to explore fundamental issues such as access to services from the patient’s perspective. As a consequence, it is a matter of concern that the Trust has not taken the opportunity to derive all available learning from Mr Howe’s death.

In my opinion action should be taken to prevent future deaths and I believe you have the power to take such action.