A 'COMPLETELY unique' inquest will finally be concluded this week nearly 32 months after it was opened. 

Barrow man Christopher Crosthwaite, 40, died on October 12, 2021. His inquest was opened shortly after at Cumbria Coroner's Court in Cockermouth but has since been through multiple hearings. Calling a jury, which is rare in inquests, was even discussed during a review hearing in February 2023. 

The decision was made to continue without one, so on Friday, June 7 coroner Miss Kirsty Gomersal will give a conclusion on Mr Crosthwaite's death after a final fact-finding hearing on Wednesday, June 5 which is expected to take five hours. 

Mr Crosthwaite was pronounced dead on the railway line near Furness Abbey less than three hours after a mental health assessment at Dane Garth in Furness General Hospital. 

Mental health practitioner Jayne Braithwaite was questioned by Ms Gomersal in January. The hearing before Ms Gomersal's conclusion is expected to hear evidence from Lancashire and South Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust. 

Coroner Dr Nicholas Shaw, who covered earlier hearings in the case, said it was unique because: "Never before has video of a medical hospital event been supplied." 

In the January hearing, footage of his appointment with Ms Braithwaite was played to the court. 

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