A MAN ran out in front of a bin lorry just days after being detained by police as an investigation into his death has been completed at Oxford Coroner's Court.

Martyn Stringer died at the John Radcliffe Hospital two days after being struck on the A4074 near Benson shortly after noon on March 27, 2023.

The 54-year-old, from Preston Crowmarsh, had run in front of a refuse truck near his home.

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Three days before, he had tried to jump from a clifftop in Sussex but was detained by police under section 136 of the Mental Health Act.

(Image: Google)

A three-day inquest was heard at Oxford Coroner’s Court this week.

During the inquest, it was heard that Mr Stringer had first reported mental health issues in 2019 with concerns of being bipolar.

He was detained in December 2021 after expressing suicidal ideations but was discharged the following April.

Mr Stringer was later diagnosed with bipolar and was prescribed with mood stabilisers. However, he came off these in March last year.

On March 24, Mr Stringer was dropped off in Oxford by his daughter after he said he was going shopping.

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However, she became concerned when she spotted him entering the train station.

Train passengers also became concerned when they heard him talking about a clifftop in Sussex, the inquest was told.

Mr Stringer was allegedly seen climbing over the safety barrier and passers-by raised the alarm. He was detained and taken to Eastbourne District General Hospital.

He was assessed and eligible for detainment, however, a bed could not be found him. While waiting, he absconded the hospital and returned to the cliffside before being caught by police at the train station, telling officers he wanted to home.

(Image: MuchLoved.Com)

His family picked him up on March 26 and took him home after a bed could still not be found due to national shortages. As a result, he couldn't be detained under section 2 of the act.

At noon the following day, he took the house keys and locked his family inside and 15 minutes later had run out across the A4074.

The bin driver provided a statement to the inquest, writing: “I noticed a person in the distance to the left hand side of the pavement.

“Moments before passing, the person had ran or jumped and had hit me.”

READ MORE: Man struck by bin lorry allegedly tried to take his life jumping from clifftop

Another lorry driver on the opposite side of the road said the ‘bin lorry had no chance’, adding: “I knew straight away he was going to try and run right in front of me.”

Concluding the inquest, Area Coroner Nicholas Graham did not find that the failure to find a free bed was a ‘gross failure’.

However, he did rule there was some 'shortcomings' with his care while in hospital and a preventing future deaths report will be sent to NHS England.

The Samaritans helpline can be contacted on 116 123 and is available 24 hours a day.