A MAN from Abergele who died from carbon monoxide poisoning “never recovered” from the death of his former partner, an inquest heard.

Richard Arren Salisbury, who lived on Hoylake Road, Moreton, died on December 3, 2022 aged 39 in the Llyn Aled area of Abergele after being reported missing on November 28.

John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, reached a conclusion of suicide at a full inquest in Ruthin today (May 9).

A medical cause of death was ruled as carbon monoxide poisoning, “likely” the result of a generator running in the van.

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Mr Salisbury was born in Wrexham on August 9, 1983 and was educated at a high school in Ruthin. He left school at 16.

He ran his own security business which “fell apart”, and had two daughters before meeting a teaching assistant, Jill, who his sister Leanne Lawton said “tamed” him.

They were together for 10 years, but her sudden death in October 2019 left him “devastated” and “broken”, after which he “never recovered”, his sister added.

His mental health suffered, and he began to work "extensively", before meeting new partner Adele Pennington and moving in with her in Moreton, the Wirral in June 2022.

Ms Pennington told the inquest that Mr Salisbury was “getting down approaching the anniversary of Jill’s death." He went missing before being found in the pub.

On October 19, he told Ms Pennington that he was "feeling ok", but he forgot the anniversary date and that had “hit him hard”.

The couple broke up and Mr Salisbury continued to work at Alan Sharkey Building Services Ltd in the Wirral.

The inquest heard he was said to be enjoying his job; he had bought a car and liked his Moreton home.

On November 21, Mr Salisbury attended the funeral of a friend, which Alan Sharkey [Mr Salisbury's boss] said left him “visibly distraught”.

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The next day, Mr Sharkey said he was “still dwelling on it and couldn’t get the image out of his head.”

His boss told him to take the day off on November 23, and that was his last contact with him.

Mr Sharkey contacted Ms Pennington on November 26 and 27 to ask if she had seen Mr Salisbury before reporting him missing to police on November 28.

On November 30, Abergele resident Anwen Bellis and her husband were on a walk, and saw a white van parked across the lake from them.

Ms Bellis said they “didn’t think anything of it”, but upon returning to the area on December 3, and having seen a police appeal for a missing person and van, took photos of the registration before informing the police once they found the numberplates matched.

Police attended the scene and saw a male lying across the driver and passenger seats.

He had left written wishes for his funeral.

A generator and a petrol can, near two large tarpaulins, were found which, despite no indication of soot, had been running.

Ambulance services were called to the scene, where his death was confirmed.

A post-mortem examination conducted after Mr Salisbury’s death found traces of cocaine and alcohol, and a benzoylecgonine level of 2.49mg, way above the drug drive level.

There was also evidence of carboxyhaemoglobin as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning, with this level at 84 per cent, likely due to the generator running.

Concluding, Mr Gittins said: The likelihood is he had been there for a few days, and the cause of death as per the evidence given is carbon monoxide poisoning.

“I’m entirely satisfied in both the manner of his death and location, coupled with indications of how difficult he was finding life, it was his intention to end his life. A conclusion of suicide in this instance."

Addressing his family and friends, Mr Gittins added: “My sincere condolences on this loss, it is no way to lose a family member or loved one and I’m sure you all miss him very much.”

Anyone feeling at risk of self-harm can call the Samaritans' 24/7 emergency line on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org.