A man took his own life three days after police and firefighters forced entry into his flat due to concerns for his welfare. Ryan Ouslem, from Worthing, died of carbon monoxide poisoning on August 1, 2022. Police and firefighters found him dead on his bed in his flat.
Three days before, on July 29, police and firefighters had gone to the 34-year-old's flat and forced entry, a prevention of future deaths (PFD) report has now revealed. He had put a post on Facebook which made people concerned for his welfare. At that time, he denied any ongoing intent to harm himself.
Police offered Ryan a call from a mental health nurse the following day and left the scene. Ryan Ouslem's bandmates said he was 'an exceptionally talented and lovely guy' (Image: Liquid Logic) After the inquest into his death concluded last month, Robert Simpson, assistant coroner for West Sussex, Brighton and Hove , raised concerns about the mental health training police receive in the PFD report. The inquest heard the police constable who went to Ryan’s flat on July 29, 2022, had had some suicide awareness training when she began her role as a police officer seven years prior, but “could not remember it”, Mr Simpson wrote.
Mr Simpson said the police officer’s evidence showed that she “did not fully understand when police powers under section 136 of the Mental Health Act 1983 can be exercised”. The officer was a coach for newly qualified officers, the inquest heard. Mr Simpson said she “did not make.
