An Oswestry man who died after absconding from a mental health facility last year was "clear and rational" before he left the site, an inquest has heard.

Lee Davies, 36, from Oswestry, died on June 18 last year after being found unresponsive in Church Stretton, having absconded from the Redwoods facility in Shrewsbury at which he had been detained under the Mental Health Act the previous May.

He was flown by air ambulance to Worcester but died after taking a variety of drugs. The hearing heard he had a history of substance misuse.

On the opening day of the jury inquest, it was heard that Mr Davies had absconded on a number of occasions between May and June 2019 by climbing over a fence in a ward garden and took drugs while away from the facility.

The hearing was told that he had been on enhanced observations until 10am on June 17, the day before his death, which meant he was being constantly watched by Redwoods staff, and that he had absconded and taken drugs on a number of other occasions prior to his death.

Acting ward manager Matthew Dance was asked about whether a change in Mr Davies' observations was high risk given his history of absconding, but disagreed.

He said: “I felt that Lee had a clear understanding of the boundaries and what was expected. He very clearly said that he understood what was expected and wanted to start his medication.

“He was content about and his presentation throughout of the whole of June 17 showed that. He was calm, relaxed and didn’t need any support. He distracted himself well and engaged with staff.

“When he left before, there was some level of frustration, anger and disappointment and feeling of being contained, but this time it was a clear rational conversation.”

The inquest, led by Shropshire’s assistant coroner Joanne Lees, also took verbal evidence from Dr Martin Bassett, a consultant psychiatrist at Redwoods, and clinical matron Sarah Oliver.

Mr Dance added that at the time, he felt he did not need to consult Dr Bassett on a change of Mr Davies’s medication that was due to be introduced that day.

Earlier, Matron Oliver had told the inquest that they were unable to stop Mr Davies from going into a garden, which formed part of the ward, because of a patient’s right to fresh air.

Dr Bassett told the inquest that Mr Davies had a history of substance misuse and psychosis and had been detained as it was believed he could harm himself and others.

His mother, Crystal Harris, was present at the inquest and she described her son as "a nice lad, not nasty – he wouldn’t do anyone harm despite things he did to himself".

The inquest continues on Thursday.