A man who dialed 999 in a moment of desperation told a GP dealing with call handlers “forget it” just minutes before falling off a bridge to his death.
Andrew Heys had visited the spot at the Manchester Ship Canal the day before, but couldn’t bring himself to jump. An inquest into his death found that the 29-year-old suffered a severe reaction to a Covid booster vaccine in 2021 and developed a life-changing auto-immune disease from it, which caused his mental health to deteriorate.
Mr Heys, from Salford, had to re-learn how to speak and walk as a result of the adverse reaction. His heartbroken family watched on as his final hours were explored during a hearing at Bolton Coroners’ Court. Assistant coroner John Pollard said Mr Heys left his flat in Eccles, Greater Manchester, on the night of March 12, 2024. His mum had been staying with him.
In the early hours, he called for an ambulance and said the two heartbreaking words before cutting the line during a conversation with an on-call doctor. His body was found by police divers three days later. Counselling manager Rebecca Turner said Mr Heys had attempted to take his own life the day before before returning home. “He told me he had gone to the place where he would end his life. He didn’t tell me where,” she added.
Mr Pollard asked Ms Turner: “You were concerned at this point about his keeping himself safe?” She replied: “Yes. We did discuss calling 999, and obviously he did try to reach out.” Mr Heys, the court heard, called 999 in the early hours. He was triaged by on-call locum GP Dr Naheed Anjum Noor, who told the court she didn’t hear everything My Heys said because the line was poor.
Mr Heys had tried to take his own life at the same spot the day before
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Image:
GMP)
A transcript of the call was read to the court. Mr Heys was heard telling Dr Noor: “I’m at the place where I should commit suicide. I came here yesterday, but I didn’t have the courage.” Dr Noor said: “What I understood from the conversation is that he’s not suicidal.” Mr Pollard said: “But he’s gone to the place where he’s tried to do it yesterday?” Dr Noor replied: “But I didn’t hear that bit. I wasn’t able to hear most of the conversation because the call was very poor. He ended the call and said ‘forget it’. I thought he didn’t want any help at that time.”
Mr Pollard asked: “It wasn’t that he was saying ‘I’m alright thanks forget it’. He’s told you he’s left the house. You didn’t hear him say ‘I walked out of the house’?” The GP said she hadn’t, adding: “My understanding was that he doesn’t want to engage anymore… he doesn’t want help anymore.”
After attempting to call Mr Heys twice more, Dr Noor closed the consultation, the court heard, and the call was marked as complete by the North West Ambulance Service. Asked what she would have done had she heard Mr Heys more clearly, Dr Noor said she would have escalated the call and made it an urgent “category two” case. The court heard Mr Heys entered the water between eight and 10 minutes after his call to Dr Noor ended. The average response for an ambulance on a category two call was 45 minutes at the time.
If you need support for your mental health the following resources are available
The NHS Choices website lists the following helplines and support networks for people to talk to.
- Samaritans (116 123 in UK and Ireland) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at jo@samaritans.org.
- Childline (0800 1111) runs a helpline for children and young people in the UK. Calls are free and the number won’t show up on your phone bill.
- PAPYRUS (0800 068 41 41) is a voluntary organisation supporting teenagers and young adults who are feeling suicidal.
- Mind (0300 123 3393) is a charity based in England providing advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. They campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
- Students Against Depression is a website for students who are depressed, have a low mood or are having suicidal thoughts.
- Bullying UK is a website for both children and adults affected by bullying.
- If U Care Share is a suicide prevention and postvention support charity. For free confidential text support text IUCS to 85258.
- James’ Place provide free, life-saving treatment for suicidal men, and those identifying as male, in the North East. Men can refer themselves or be referred by a professional including those working in health and community services, or by a friend or family
Sathiya Selvaraja, associate director of clinical services at healthcare provider Bardoc, told the court Dr Noor has since received further training. Mr Pollard recorded an open conclusion, telling the court there was was insufficient evidence to conclude Mr Heys’ death was a case of suicide and misadventure, or an accident.
He said: “This is a really sad set of events that led to the death of a fit and well and talented young man. The pain and embarrassment were such that a previously happy young man was rendered desperate and thinking of ending his own life.” Mr Pollard added there wasn’t sufficient proof “he deliberately entered the water to end his life”, and “there’s not sufficient evidence to prove an accident or misadventure. I can only record what’s known as an open conclusion.”
He also said he had concerns around the way Mr Heys’ case was handled, telling the court his care “seemed to vary between being good to being less than satisfactory”.
Mr Heys’ cause of death was recorded as drowning, with post-vaccination autoimmune encephalopathy a secondary factor.
For confidential 24/7 support in the UK, call Samaritans on 116 123 or visit a local Samaritans branch, see www.samaritans.org for details.