Suicide victim may have had money worries
A MAN found floating in the sea underneath Eastbourne Pier may have killed himself because of money worries, an inquest has heard.
Terence Maxwell Clayson, known as 'Max' to his friends, was found floating face upwards dressed in a suit by workers at Eastbourne Pier on February 15.
The 75-year-old retired manager, from Meads Road, later died of hypothermia at Eastbourne District General Hospital.
Deputy coroner Joanna Pratt recorded a verdict of suicide following an inquest at Eastbourne Coroner's Court on Thursday (August 26).
The court heard how Mr Clayson had been living in supported housing at Redman King House before he died.
On the morning of his death he left an 'I shall be out' slip in the internal post before leaving his home.
His body was later discovered floating face upwards in the sea off Eastbourne Pier at 9.20am by pier worker Charles Harding.
"It was a beautiful sunny day and the sea was like a mill pond," he told the inquest.
"The cleaner just kept pointing at the sea Beachy Head side. I got closer to the railings and I couldn't make out what she was pointing at.
"Then I realised it was a body in the water. I quickly ran down to the pier and alerted my manager.
"It was face upwards and because the sea was so clear you could see down to his shoes. He was just shaking.
"It was just an image that I won't get over for a while," he added.
Pier manager Christos Stylianou alerted the emergency services and called out the coastguard.
"I distinctly remember his arms being crossed against his chest. We thought that we saw some shivering," he told the inquest.
"Mr Clayson was recovered by lifeboat and taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital where he later died of hypothermia."
His daughter Nicola Clayson told Eastbourne Coroner's Court that her father had been in financial difficulty around the time of his death.
He did not leave a suicide note but left his financial statements laid out in his home.
"I wouldn't call him a depressed or unhappy sort of person," she said. "He did have some financial worries.
"It wasn't until after his death that we realised quite how serious they were. I think we all realise that the extent of his financial problems were probably too much for him to deal with in his own mind," she added.
Miss Clayson told the court that her father was a very sociable man. "He enjoyed people's company and was very generous.
"He was very keen on sport and quite an active man. He had travelled widely and had a love for his family and for his grandchildren," she added.
Miss Pratt recorded a verdict of suicide.
She said, "On the morning of February 15, Mr Clayson left his home address before the daily checks.
"We don't know when he left or where he went. At 9.20am he was seen floating in the sea on his back.
"No one saw Mr Clayson enter the sea. No one noticed anything different in Mr Clayson or his behaviour in the time before his death.
"There's a possibility Mr Clayson accidentally entered the water. Based on the events I've heard I don't think that is the case."
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Weather for Bexhill-on-Sea
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 15 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
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