A MAN whose body was found in Lymm Dam in July was 'adamant' he did not require professional assistance to help with any mental health issues, a court heard.

On July 24 the body of Eric Pickston, 69, was discovered at the site, on Church Road, after he drowned.

Last Wednesday at Warrington Coroner's Court, Coroner Alan Moore listened to evidence from witnesses but reached an 'open' verdict after confirming there was not enough evidence to be sure Mr Pickston, formerly of Cyril Bell Close, in Lymm decided to end his own life.

The court heard volunteer Dennis Deakin came across the body following a site check.

He said: "At first I thought it was a bag of rubbish – it was perfectly still in the water."

PC Adam Carroll attended Lymm Dam just after 8.15am following the incident and said officers found there to be 'no evidence of third party involvement'.

"There was nothing to indicate he was pushed in, or nothing to indicate an assault or altercation," he added.

Mr Pickston was 'recognised' to have problems with his mood and stress in 2007 due to a combination of redundancy and work-related stress, the court was told.

A medical assessment took place on May 2 and Jane Alexander, from the Cheshire and Wirral Partnership NHS Trust, said he attended attended A&E after cutting himself.

"As with all self injuries he was referred to the psychiatric liaison team," she added.

"He denied problems with low mood or mental health and was quite adamant he did not need any help.

"He denied feeling suicidal and cutting to end his life – he was not sure why he cut himself, he was a bit vague.

"He said it may have been down to anxiety but was adamant he wanted no help."

Former mental health nurse Mr Pickston, who was divorced, was described as acting unusually before his death by great nephew John Vernon.

He said: "He was very strange for the last year of his life – one minute he was normal and you could see he was all there and the next minute he was not.

"I could not grasp it. He was making problems where there were not problems.

"At the side of his bed I found a book including films and who was in the films, as if he was trying to trigger his memory.

"We thought he was worried of bowel problems and were convinced he had concerns.

"When something about cancer would come on TV he would walk out."

The court also heard Mr Pickston took a paracetamol overdose in January and, before concluding, Mr Moore admitted identifying the exact nature of the overdose was difficult.

He said: "The figure of 100 was mentioned following the paracetamol overdose but there is no way of verifying that."

Delivering his conclusion, Mr Moore added: "I have to be sure that he intended to end his own life.

"On the evidence that I have heard I can't be sure he did so there is no conclusion of suicide.

"I feel the appropriate conclusion is open. We have managed to piece together quite a bit of the story but I feel the evidence does not give us definite answers."