The family of a man who died by suicide after two previous failed attempts have told an inquest that "failures in the mental health system" played a part in his death.
Rhys Eurydd Williams had a history of mental health problems including paranoia and psychosis. He grew up in Swansea and was described by his father as an "extremely loving and caring young man" who had a close relationship with his family.
History of mental health issues
He began suffering with his mental health in 2014. He was sectioned on more than one occasion and lived in assisted living accommodation and later at a flat in Dunvant Square in Dunvant, Swansea.
He tried to hang himself in January 2022 and was sectioned again when he told his family of the failed attempt. He then took an overdose of drugs in July 2022 and was taken to hospital. He was also a patient at Fendrod Ward in Cefn Coed Hospital in Swansea, managed by Swansea Bay University Health Board, in 2022.
Discovery and inquest
On October 11, 2022, he was found hanging in his flat by his father Keith Williams. He was 30 years old.
At an inquest into his death held at Swansea Guildhall on Monday, August 3, Edward Ramsay, assistant coroner for Swansea, Neath and Port Talbot, read evidence from Mr Williams, Rhys's father.
He said his son was "dishevelled" and "off" when he saw him on October 8, 2022, three days before his body was discovered. Mr Williams spoke to his son over the phone on October 9 and in the daytime on October 10, but could not get hold of him on the evening of October 10.
When he still could not get an answer from his son on October 11, Mr Williams went to his son's flat during his lunchbreak. It was then that he found his son's body inside the flat.
Paramedics and police were called but Rhys was declared dead at the scene.
Post mortem and family's statement
According to a post mortem examination, Rhys had a quantity of cannabis, cocaine and amphetamine in his system, but it was not clear when those substances would have been taken. A cause of death was given as "1A: consistent with hanging", and his death was not treated as suspicious.
According to a statement read at the inquest, Mr Williams said his son was released from hospital just 24 hours after trying to hang himself in January 2022, and then discharged from hospital following his overdose attempt in July 2022 when he told health officials that he was merely drunk.
Mr Williams said: "We feel let down by the mental health teams. We could see him slipping away and getting worse."
He added: "My wife and myself do not feel that any one person is to blame but we do feel that Rhys's death was due to failures in the mental health system."
The inquest into Rhys Williams's death, which is expected to last four days, continues.
