A FATHER found hanged in the toilets of his Ellesmere Port workplace had no history of any depression or mood changes, an inquest heard.
Peter David Cooke, 46, of Pennine Walk, Little Sutton, was discovered by colleague Stephen Murphy at the concrete manufacturer, where he had worked as a HGV driver for a number of years.
Father-of-two Mr Cooke had shown no evidence to anyone who knew him that his mind was altered, did not suffer from any health problems and had not been drinking or taking drugs.
The inquest at Chester Civil Justice Centre heard how on the morning of August 2 last year, his colleague Mr Murphy had arrived to work at Hanson Premix on Bridges Road, Ellesmere Port, and noticed that a 20ft container used for storage had been unusually left unlocked with a padlock and key lying nearby.
When Mr Murphy walked over to the other side of the yard to a toilet and shower block, he discovered Mr Cooke had hanged himself in one of the toilet cubicles.
When police arrived shortly afterwards, they confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.
Mr Cooke, who was originally from Liverpool, moved to Ellesmere Port with his partner and took up the job driving concrete wagons.
The inquest heard how he was from a close and loving family, who he remained in regular contact with, despite them still living in Liverpool.
The inquest was told Mr Cooke had two grown-up children from his first marriage and was a popular man who ‘kept himself to himself’.
Assistant deputy coroner for Cheshire Jean Harkin said she was satisfied he had had no history of depression or any evidence of alcohol or drugs in his system.
She offered her sincere condolences as she recorded a verdict of ’took his own life’.
