Major step forward investigation into death of Dylan McEwan Smith, three years on

The inquest into the death of a 24-year-old Blackpool man who died by hanging three years ago has taken a major step forward.

Dylan McEwan Smith died on June 13, 2023, just hours after being returned home by a police officer who found him in distress on a building site.

His family say a security guard had called for help after finding the Dylan without shoes on at 5am, saying he wanted to kill himself.

They believe he should have been taken to hospital for mental health help instead of being dropped off at home - and hit out at Lancashire Police for dismissing an investigation into the events surrounding his death.

An inquest into Dylan’s death was opened and then adjourned in November 2023, pending the outcome of a possible police misconduct hearing, but Dylan’s family were told earlier this year that the hearing had been formally discontinued because a key witness called by the officer concerned could not be traced.

It is now understood that the officer concerned has now left the force and following the submission of a copy of the police investigation report to the Blackpool coroner’s office, assistant coroner Andrew Cousins has now set a date for the inquest.

At a review hearing held at Blackpool Town Hall, Mr Cousins said the inquest would take place on August 25 and 26 and be considered by him rather than by a jury.

Among the conditions for a jury inquest are that the death being considered resulted from an act or omission of a police officer or member of a service police force in the purported execution of their duty.

Mr Cousins also indicated that it is likely to be an Article 2 inquest - an enhanced investigation into a death which broadens the scope of the inquest, engaging the state’s procedural obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights - the right to life.

It is triggered when there is an arguable breach of the state's positive duty to protect an individual’s life.

Dylan’s girlfriend Molly Cartmell has previously described Dylan as “a happy soul” who had never before spoken about suicide. She said the warehouse worker was her “best friend” and his passing would “leave a hole in my heart for the rest of my life.”

“He loved his friends and family to bits,” she added. “He had four younger siblings he was extremely close to, he enjoyed seeing his other family such as his aunties, uncles and cousins. His mum sadly passed away in 2022 who he adored.

“He was always telling me stories about them, and I could see the happiness in him when he was around his family. They never knew him to be sad and he was always so happy to be around them. Dylan worked in a warehouse up until his death and had worked there for three years prior, he enjoyed his job and the people he worked with.

“He was really a hard-working man and was always in employment.”