Death of Blackpool man whose body was recovered from the sea near Barrow was accidental, says coroner

Jason Goldrick, 50, of Park Road, went missing from Blackpool Victoria Hospital at around 11.30pm on November 1.

The last known sighting of Jason was in Poulton town centre in the early hours of November 2.

Police launched a major investigation into his disappearance with searches in and around the hospital, as well as at his home in Park Road.

Officers conducted a number of enquiries, reviewed his movements, released CCTV footage of Jason and appealed to the public’s help for information to help find him.

Around 1.35pm on December 22, Barrow Police and HM Coastguard were called to the report of a body in the sea under the pier of the Coastguard Station at Roa Island.

The body was later identified as Jason, with a Home Office post-mortem examination giving his cause of death as drowning.

On Wednesday, May 20, an inquest was held at Cockermouth Coroner’s Court in Cumbria, with Kally Cheema giving a ruling of accidental death.

The finding brings to a close a six-month investigation into the disappearance and death of Mr Goldrick.

Det Ch Insp Pauline Stables, of Lancashire Police’s Force Major Investigation Team, said: "This remains an extremely sad and upsetting case.

"We believe Jason walked through Poulton, towards the River Wyre estuary before somehow entering the water.

"Tragically his body was later recovered close to Barrow-in-Furness.

"We acknowledge the coroner’s ruling and hope this brings some form of closure for Jason’s family and friends.

"Our thoughts remain with them at this difficult time.

"Furthermore, we would like to place on record our thanks to everyone who assisted in our efforts to find Jason."