A YOUNG man who killed himself by drowning in his car had told friends he was “off to pay his respects to the river Avon”, an inquest was told.

Anthony Taylor, aged 22, was found dead by police in the Avon near Boat Lane, Evesham, on Sunday, November 24.

He had been reported missing three days earlier.

Mr Taylor had a history of depression and once jumped from a city bridge, the inquest was told.

Detective Inspector Dean Jones, of West Mercia Police, said: “We became aware of his disappearance through a call from a woman saying he was at the river Avon in Evesham and he intended to take his own life.

“He had been to a friend’s house in Patterdale Drive, Warndon, Worcester.

"He left at 9pm after saying he was ‘off to pay his respects to the river Avon’. He was then in contact with friends during the night. The content of his texts indicated he was going to take his own life.

“We found him in his vehicle in the river. There were no suspicious circumstances.”

Det Insp Jones said Mr Taylor had a history of depression and two years ago was rescued after jumping off the Sabrina Bridge.

His parents said they knew nothing of the previous attempted suicide.

“I saw him on the Sunday before he died,” his mother, Joanne Price, told the hearing.

“I had no knowledge he was depressed.”

The detective also told the hearing Mr Taylor had been in a week-long relationship with a woman, which may have ended.

Mr Taylor’s sister, Kayleigh Taylor, said she spoke to her brother shortly before he died. 

“He said he loved me and his mum,” she said.

Mr Taylor, who was living in Lyttleton Avenue, Bromsgrove, enjoyed bus journeys and used to regularly travel the Worcester network.

Pathologist Dr Reza Vaziri said the cause of death was drowning.

Toxicology reports showed a previous but not recent use of cannabis. No alcohol was detected. 

Worcestershire Coroner Geraint Williams recorded that Mr Taylor had killed himself.

He told the family: “There is nothing I can say that will make this easier for you. Please accept my condolences.”

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