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Inquest begins into death of Bangor student who escaped mental health unit in 1994
Overview
A fresh inquest has begun into the death of 30-year-old Anthony Whittle, a Bangor University student with paranoid schizophrenia who died in November 1994 after escaping from the Hergest psychiatric unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd. The high court ruled the original 1995 inquest inadequate following a long campaign by his family for a new hearing.
Key points
- Anthony Whittle, a 30-year-old forestry student at Bangor University, died in November 1994 after escaping from a psychiatric unit.
- He had been admitted to the Hergest psychiatric unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd after being found wandering in sand dunes.
- His family heard a crash and bang as he escaped through an interview room window and fled down a sloping roof.
- He was found dead beside the A55 near Llandygai the following morning.
- A high court ruled the original 1995 inquest inadequate, leading to a fresh inquest before a jury in Caernarfon.