Man died after entering river
33-YEAR-OLD HAD BEEN SEEN JUMPING FROM TYNE BRIDGE
Reporter A MAN whose body was pulled from the River Tyne took his own life, a coroner has ruled.
Alex Byers, from Gosforth, was reported missing in December and a major search operation was launched after police believed he may have fallen into the water from the Tyne Bridge.
Officers and firefighters tried to look for the 33-year-old along the riverside and also checked CCTV footage in the area. A public appeal was then made through the media.
However Alex’s body was sadly found near Dunston Staithes on January 14.
At an inquest in Newcastle, a report from Northumbria Police was read out which explained the sequence of events.
It said officers first received a report of a man spotted on the wrong side of the bridge railings at 3.45am on December 1. An immediate search was carried out, however no-one was found.
The next day, police were informed that Alex, who worked as a steward at the Sage Gateshead music venue, had been missing.
He had last been seen by his family on the evening of November 30, who believed he would be at work the next day. But when they contacted his employers, they said Alex had called in sick on November 30 and did not turn up for work the following day, the inquest heard.
Police searches continued and CCTV footage was found which showed Alex walking to the Tyne Bridge, climbing over the railings and jumping into the river.
Officers also made inquiries with Alex’s family, friends, colleagues and associates.
And they were told that Alex may have been depressed and suffered from low mood swings.
The court further heard that Alex was involved in online gambling and was believed to have some debts.
The hearing was told that an investigation of his laptop and internet browsing history showed he was apparently involved in buying computer games and then selling them on eBay in an attempt to fund his gambling. More than a month later, officers received a call saying a body had been found in the water at Dunston Staithes. Coroner Karen Dilks concluded that Alex had taken his own life. She said: “There is clear evidence of Alex jumping from the Tyne Bridge into the river and he was found there some time later when his death was confirmed.
“I am satisfied that the appropriate conclusion is that Alex’s death was the consequence of suicide and this is what I will record.”