Spindles safety call after suicide leap

CORONER Simon Nelson has called for extra safety measures at Spindles car park after a father-of-one leaped to his death.

The coroner is to write to health-care workers, police and the centre owner to see if measures can be taken to ensure it couldn’t happen again. The same spot has been used in other attempts, he said.

Charles Daniel Walker (28), a dental equipment engineer from Middlesbrough, died at the Royal Oldham Hospital in December 2010. He was spotted on CCTV before getting out on the seventh floor of the car park and climbing over metal railings.

Pathologist Dr Antonio Paiva-Correia, said Mr Walker had suffered severe injuries from the fall.

Mr Walker’s family said he had been concerned about a forthcoming colonoscopy but had postponed the appointment so he would not receive any potentially bad news until after Christmas.

After an argument with his partner, Sarah Glasper, over some text messages, he drove a van to Oldham.

The following day, he told his mother, Valerie, that he had slept in his van in Leeds and that he was returning home.

Mrs Walker said she was not aware of any connections he had with Oldham, other than that he may have once distributed mobile phones there. She said he had been looking forward to Christmas as it was always a big family gathering.

Mr Nelson said: “He had everything to live for — good health, a partner, a child he doted on and a supportive family.”

He said Mr Walker’s actions were “virtually inexplicable” and recorded a verdict that Mr Walker, who left a note in his van, took his own life.