The body of a despondent Asda employee, who took his own life in the supermarket, was only discovered three days later and was ‘let down’ by mental health cutbacks, according to an inquest. Phillip Huntley had been employed at the Asda branch in Bodmin, Cornwall, for 17 years when he took his own life on May 4, the inquest revealed.
The body of the father of one was found by a colleague 3 days later. Police were called, customers were evacuated, and the shop closed for a day. The 55-year-old – who had become ‘more introverted’ in recent years since a relationship breakdown – had been waiting for an appointment to address his depression and anxiety.
Emma Hillson, assistant coroner for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, was told how Mr. Huntley was ‘let down’ by cutbacks in mental health services and ‘could not believe’ the wait time was within the target.
The father had a long history of mental health issues, the inquest into his death heard.