AN inquest into the death of a family man heard how he sadly chose to take his own life at Weaver Parkway.

Adrian Clarke, 48 and of Winsford, was found by Cheshire Search and Rescue volunteers on November 18 after being reported missing by his partner.

Nicknamed Adi, the heavy goods vehicle driver who worked in Middlewich failed to return home three days previous, much to the concern of his family.

And it was his family who paid tribute to him in the form of a written statement from his partner, Erin, heard at Warrington Coroner’s Court on Wednesday.

The court heard how the pair had been in a relationship for 20 years and had three children together.

Adrian also had three stepchildren, and although he was not their biological father, it was said how he ‘was a dad to them’ and how they called him dad.

“Adrian was always a joker and such a good father to the children,” Erin said.

The court also heard how Adrian began to take drugs from the age of 14 and had been an addict until 2007, stopping following the birth of his child.

He was never diagnosed with any mental health issues and his family not aware of any recent suicidal thoughts.

There had been a conversation four to five weeks before his death in which Adrian said that ‘If you’re going to do it [suicide], you tell no one’, but nothing more was said about it.

Erin added that three weeks before his death, she noticed his mood had changed and felt this wasn’t the same Adrian she had known for 20 years.

Three days before his death, Adrian left home one morning without saying where he was going, but said he would be back later.

After failing to return, his partner reported him missing to police the next morning and was informed that he had taken his own life three days later.

A statement by the Cheshire Search and Rescue Service volunteer who found Adrian told of how he was deployed to Weaver Parkway on the morning of November 18 to look for a ‘high-risk’ missing person after his car had been located nearby.

As he searched the area, he spotted the body of a man near the riverbank.

He was confirmed to be deceased and was identified by police after being in possession of bank cards, a driving licence and birth certificate in Adrian’s name.

Police also confirmed that there were no indications of any suspicious circumstances or third-party involvement.

Peter Sigee, assistant coroner for Cheshire, accepted Adrian’s cause of death as hanging with the intention and effect of ending his own life and concluded that he died as a result of suicide.

If you are struggling and need to talk to someone, call Samaritans for free from any phone on 116123 or email jo@samartians.org 24 hours a day.

Papyrus are dedicated to helping people under 35 at risk of suicide, and help can be sought via papyrus-uk.org

Alternatively, call 0800 068 4141, text 07786209697 or email pat@papyrus-uk.org