A 62-YEAR-OLD sea captain took his life by jumping off a clifftop in Symonds Yat after being diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease, an inquest heard on Tuesday (14th July).

Richard Wiseman of Standish, near Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, who was described as a "very active" person, did not want to be a burden to his family as the disease progressed, the inquest was told.

He left home on 5th March and travelled to the famous Symonds Yat rock in the Wye Valley where he jumped to his death.

Mr Wiseman was seen moments before he jumped by two passers-by. He was sitting on the cliff edge with his legs dangling over. 

One of the witnesses, David Gray, said he saw Mr Wiseman sitting on the edge close to a black Volvo parked nearby. Mr Gray looked into the car and saw a note addressed to emergency services on the seat.

The second passer-by, Andrew Harding approached Mr Wiseman to ask if he was okay.  He was told to go away which he did - but he immediately contacted emergency services concerned for the man’s welfare.  When he returned with police officers the man had gone.

A note was found by Mr Wiseman’s wife at home and another at the foot of the cliff where Mr Wiseman was found. The inquest heard they showed ’clear intention to take his own life.’

Mr Wiseman had been diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease in 2017 and although he had never presented to anyone with suicidal ideation he was struggling with his diagnosis.

He had been described by family members in a statement as a "very fit and well man who lived life to the full."

Senior Coroner Katy Skerrett said it was clear that Mr Wiseman had clear suicide intent when he left his home that morning. 

"He was hit with horrendous news and was struggling massively with that when he made the decision to make his way to Symonds Yat rock.

"He was seen by passers-by shortly before jumping from the cliff and wrote detailed notes to emergency services and his wife which satisfies me he intended to take his own life.

"He didn’t want to live with the diagnosis and become a burden on his family" Mrs Skerrett concluded.