Mental health care boy George Werb walked in front of train

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Mental health care boy George Werb walked in front of train


George Werb was killed at Seaton Junction between Axminster and Honiton in June

A teenager walked "calmly" in front of a train hours after being released from a psychiatric hospital, an inquest has been told.

George Werb, 15, from Colyton, east Devon, was killed at Seaton Junction between Axminster and Honiton in June.

His parents told the inquest in Exeter he had been released from the private Priory Hospital in Southampton without a proper risk assessment.

They had also asked for his medication to be reduced but had been refused.


The inquest heard George stepped calmly in front of the train near his home

The inquest heard that George had been diagnosed with severe depression, he suffered delusions and he talked of emptiness and suicidal thoughts.

He was admitted to the specialist Priory Hospital, but his parents started to have doubts about the treatment he was receiving.

George's parents thought it was harming him and asked for him to be taken off the drugs he was given.

His father Justin Werb told the inquest that George seemed to deteriorate and that his behaviour was "very troubled".

They asked for the dosage of his medication to be reduced, the inquest heard, but that request was refused and they were told his medication was correct.

A train driver told the inquest that George stepped "calmly and deliberately" in front of the train.

His parents said in a statement: "Losing George is an unimaginable loss to our family. Our pain is beyond expression."

A serious case review into George's treatment at the Priory is under way.

The inquest continues.

[Chris from Nailsea]

An update, from the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

George Werb inquest: Train death teenager 'did not take own life'

A boy who walked in front of a train after being released from a psychiatric hospital "did not take his own life", according to an inquest into his death.

George Werb, 15, from Colyton, Devon, was killed at Seaton Junction between Axminster and Honiton in 2013 after he "calmly" walked in front of the train.

The doctor who treated George said he would have "felt imprisoned" if he had not been allowed to go home.

His family said he was let down by health professionals.

Speaking on behalf of the family, lawyer Mark Bowman, described George's "incredible life" and "jovial personality".

George was diagnosed with depression.

The inquest at County Hall in Exeter heard between 23 and 27 June 2013 he had drawn pictures in his geography book - one of a train track, one of a tree with a swing underneath, and a stickman with a noose around his neck with the words "game over young man".

The teenager had suffered delusions and talked of emptiness and suicidal thoughts, it was said.

He was admitted to the private Priory Hospital in Southampton on 23 May and was released on 27 June.

The next day on 28 June, he walked "calmly" in front of the train, the inquest was told.

Dr Carlos Hoyos, a consultant child psychiatrist who treated George, said if the teenager had not been allowed home "he would really have felt imprisoned".

He said: "If we'd said you're not going home, delayed his discharge, I felt that would have tipped him into despair."

A serious case review into George's treatment at the Priory is under way.

[ChrisB]

A boy who walked in front of a train after being released from a psychiatric hospital "did not take his own life", according to an inquest into his death.[/quote]

A statement totally unsubstantiated by the report below it....