Mum’s search for answers after son found dead in bed

INQUEST AT COURT UNABLE TO GIVE A CAUSE OF DEATH

A HULL mum has been left searching for answers after the tragic death of her beloved son.

Simon Cooke, 31, of Newtown Court in Hull, was sadly found dead in his bed after his family had not heard from him for more than a week.

An inquest at Hull Coroners’ Court heard that Simon suffered with a drink problem and had a stomach ulcer. But a postmortem was unable to ascertain the cause of his death because his body was badly decomposed.

He was found dead by police on June 3 last year after his mum and half sister knocked on his door and smelt “an odour associated with death” through his letterbox.

Toxicology results showed that Simon only had a “social level” of alcohol in his system, so alcohol poisoning was ruled out as a cause of his death.

Paying tribute to Simon, who was known as Si, his mum Elaine Collinson said the former Holderness Academy student was a popular and social person.

“Simon developed a passion for the performing arts, in particular drama and dance,” she said.

“He was popular and social, and in college Simon came out as gay and achieved BTEC qualifications.

“In his latter teens, he developed a drinking habit and sought help from Renew, which helped initially, but there was then a relapse.

“The doctor told him that his alcohol problem would cause him serious issues if he did not stop and he developed a stomach ulcer.

“He was mostly unemployed, but volunteered at Preston Park Primary School.”

Mrs Collinson said Simon was a “mummy’s boy” and also adored his nana, whom he cared for, and that he was deeply upset when she died.

She said the last time she spoke to Simon was around a week before his death and that he was in “high spirits”, but she decided to go to his flat after he had not returned her calls for several days, where she sadly found him dead.

With the inquest not providing the answer to the cause of Simon’s death,

Mrs Collinson has been closure.

She said: “Simon is so deeply missed by his family and we just feel like we have still got no answers after the inquest and have been left still questioning why he died.

“How does a 31-year-old just pass away in their sleep with no cause? It just doesn’t happen.

“He was so lovely, kind and caring and we miss him everyday.”

Tributes were also paid to Simon by his boyfriend, who was the last person to see him just less than a week before his death when the pair had a picnic in Hull on May 29.

He said that Simon was down due to the isolating impact of the Covid-19 restrictions and acting strangely like he was unwell.

The partner also believed he had been drinking before the pair met and that Simon later got a taxi back to his flat on his own.

“Our friendship developed into a relationship and Simon was a kind and caring person,” he said.

“He was a people person and thrived around people and got down when he was not near them.

“On June 4, 2020, police rang me to give me the news [that Simon had died] and it devastated me and was completely unexpected.”

Coroner Rosemary Baxter the cause of Simon’s death “unascertained” and gave an conclusion. left without said was open