People have been urged to look for help if they are feeling down or suicidal following news that a suicide was confirmed by the coroner recently.

Kirsty Gomersal, area coroner for Cumbria, confirmed that Brian David Sargent, of Valley Drive in Barrow, took his own life at the end of last year.

“Mr Brian David Sargent died on November 4, 2019 at Cavendish Dock Road in Barrow-in-Furness,” she told Cockermouth Coroner’s Court on October 16.

“Mr Sargent was discovered in the reclined driver’s seat of his Ford Mondeo which had been severely damaged in a fire.

“Evidence is that Mr Sargent started the fire deliberately and had been low in mood.”

The Mail reported on the 81-year-old retired welder’s death in November last year, and this is the first time he has been identified to the public.

Back in November 4, 2019, emergency services were called to tackle the incident on the land adjacent to Salthouse Mills in the early morning.

The Mail: SCENE: CSI at Barrow Docks on November 4, 2019SCENE: CSI at Barrow Docks on November 4, 2019

Shortly after arriving police and fire crews discovered a body in the vehicle, which led Crime Scene Investigators (CSI) to be called.

The death was recorded as non-suspicious. Kitty Birtwistle, who took up a role as a facilitator with Suicide Bereavement Support in Cumbria following her father’s death, explained that there are many forms of help there for those that need it.

“It is important that if you are feeling suicidal you need to go to somewhere for help,” she said.

“If you go to A&E, they will put you in touch with a crisis team.

“They will assess you and they will get you the help that you need.”

Miss Birtwistle explained this could be through being put on a 48-hour watch, counselling, or any other therapy that would be best suited to the individual need.

“If you are feeling down, there are a lot of people out there who can help and support you,” she continued.

“If you have lost someone to suicide you can contact us.

“We have a weekly Zoom meeting every Thursday, we all chat with each other and if one of us is having a bad day we support them.”

Miss Birtwistle explained that she met some of her closest friends at the support group which works right across Cumbria.

Here are support lines for anyone who may need advice or support:

  • Samaritans – Call 116 123 – There round the clock, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
  • PAPYRUS – Call 0800 068 41 41 – Support line for young people at risk of suicide. Various opening hours.
  • CALM – Call 0800 58 58 58. Men’s Helpline open 5pm – Midnight
  • Shout Crisis Text Service – Text Shout to 85258 to get text support
  • MindLine Cumbria – 0300 561 00000 – Mental health information, guidance, and emotional support.
  • Young Minds Crisis Text Service – Text YM to 85258