The body of a missing man was found by a dog walker four months after police had searched the area, an inquest has heard.
The court was told that James Whitman, from Gressenhall, near Dereham, was reported missing after he left the A&E department of the Norfolk and Norwich hospital, where he had been taken following a mental health crisis.
Despite several extensive searches in the surrounding area, on the outskirts of Norwich, his body was not found until it was discovered by a member of the public four months later.
He was just over half a mile from the hospital (1.1km) and 218m from where his mobile phone was found on the night he disappeared.
He was also inside the initial police search area, which covered a radius of just under a mile (1.4km) from the hospital.
An inquest into Mr Whitman’s death, held at Norfolk Coroner’s Court on Wednesday, April 19, heard how the 40-year-old was born in Norwich in 1982 and had worked as a landscape gardener.
On the day his family reported him missing, he had been taken to the N&N in an ambulance after suffering what his family believed was a “mental breakdown”.
It followed a recent diagnosis of epilepsy that meant he had to leave his job and also surrender his driving license.
He had been diagnosed with 'nocturnal epilepsy' in 2020, but after a daytime seizure this had been re-diagnosed.
On the morning of June 13, 2022, he reported that he could hear voices in his head telling him to hurt himself or a family member.
Concerned about his wellbeing, his father, who lived nearby, went to his home in Hall’s Drive, Gressenhall, and called 111.
The call handler then escalated the call to a 999 emergency.
Paramedics were able to transport Mr Whitman to the N&N, where he was placed in a "quiet space" in the emergency department.
He later left the hospital, telling staff he needed to use the toilet, without receiving further treatment. This was the last time he was seen.
His disappearance sparked a significant search operation in the area of Earlham Park and the University of East Anglia (UEA), including the lake at the UEA, but nothing was found. Search dogs and drones were used.
People living near the hospital were urged by police to check outbuildings and sheds, while walkers were also called upon to assist with the search in the Eaton, Bowthorpe, Cringleford and Earlham Park area.
A total of 6,500 leaflets were handed out.
More searches - led by the Lowland Search and Rescue Team - took place on the outskirts of Norwich in September but, again, no trace of Mr Whitman was found.
Police were then called on the morning of October 18, after a member of the public reported they had found a body in a field off the B1108 Watton Road.
In a statement read out in court, superintendent Kris Barnard, explained that a search area of 1.4km (almost one mile) was put into place after Mr Whitman went missing, with a drone used to search the area Mr Whitman was later found.
His evidence said: “The use of police drones is in its relative infancy, with Norfolk Constabulary leading the way, but there are improvements to be considered.
“All reasonable efforts were made to find James in keeping with policy.
“It is not possible to say whether James was present or not in the area he was in at the time of the search with the drone – although I suspect he might have been.”
A Serious Incident Report carried out by the hospital also revealed a number of failings – including inadequate staffing on the day of his admission.
Officials there say they have implemented further action to prevent future incidents.
The court also heard that Mr Whitman was divorced but had regular contact with his children.
His father, Stephen Whitman, described him as “a happy child who loved sports”.
Assistant coroner for Norfolk, Christopher Leach, recorded an open conclusion. Mr Whitman’s medical cause of death was given as “unascertained”.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here