Cancer patient drowned (From Stroud News and Journal)

Cancer patient drowned

FORMER jockey and Master of Hounds Ernest Smith drowned himself after his admission to hospital for a prostate cancer operation was delayed by just a few hours.

An inquest on Wednesday heard how Mr Smith, 92, felt the hospital had 'mucked' him about by twice delaying his admission and he told a friend he had 'had enough.'

Mr Smith posted a goodbye letter to a friend and then went missing from home in Paddock Rise, Stonehouse.

He was found dead two days later by police frogmen in the river where he loved to feed the ducks and swans.

Deputy Cotswold coroner Sally Scanlon said Mr Smith took his own life after 'becoming concerned about the possibility of a delay in his operation.'

Pathologist Professor Neil Shepherd said Mr Smith, who had prostate cancer and heart disease, died from drowning.

There was a significant level of alcohol - about one-and-a-half times the drink-drive limit - in his body.

The hearing in Gloucester was told Mr Smith was divorced and lived alone in warden-controlled flats. He had no known relatives.

A friend, David Wyatt, said he last heard from Mr Smith on December 1 when he asked for a lift to the hospital.

"I agreed to take him at 4.30pm straight after I had finished work," said Mr Wyatt.

"He was calm and quiet.

"At 3.55pm he phoned and said 'They have mucked me about enough. They won't muck me about any more. They won't have a bed until 10pm and that's no good."

Mr Wyatt said he tried to calm him down but he insisted he had 'had enough.'

Two days later he received a letter from Mr Smith - posted 2nd class on December 1.

The deputy coroner said she had read the letter but would not read it out in court.

Verdict: Suicide.