A 33-YEAR-OLD dad was found hanged at a Kendal woodland after struggling to cope with the breakdown of his relationship, an inquest heard.

Simon David Owen was taken to hospital but declared dead there on December 8 of last year.

Mr Owen had initially been discovered along Boundary Bank Lane by cousin Jamie Tyson.

Emergency services were called but efforts at resuscitation by paramedics were in vain and Mr Owen died at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

Monday's inquest heard that Mr Owen had struggled to deal with his relationship of more than three years with Tara Forbes coming to an end.

It heard that Mr Owen moved to Kendal in November 2020 and began working as a delivery driver.

His father, Anthony James Owen, told Cockermouth Coroner’s Court: “In the last few weeks before his death his mood was low and, thinking about it now, he was probably depressed.”

Anthony last saw his son on December 6.

“He was a bit quiet and sad but, again, I put it down to him missing home,” he said.

Ms Forbes told the hearing that her relationship with Mr Owen, who was born in Ashton-under-Lyne, broke down in January 2020 due to infidelity on Mr Owen’s part.

The couple, who had lived together with their two children and Ms Forbes' child from a previous relationship, decided to give the relationship another chance in October.

However, said Ms Forbes, Mr Owen began messaging other women ‘within 24 hours’.

Mr Owen moved to Kendal, but, she said, he called her one night during the middle of the night and accused her of having another man at the property.

She told Cockermouth Coroner’s Court that she was forced to call the police on December 6 as her ex-partner had turned up at her Manchester home wanting to be let in.

Jamie Tyson, who lives in Kendal and is Mr Owen’s cousin, told the inquest that, on the day he died, Mr Owen sent him a long message saying how much he missed his children.

Mr Tyson was concerned and rang him and spoke to him, with Mr Owen saying he was on Boundary Bank Lane.

Police were called and, after a search, Mr Owen was found hanged.

The toxicology report revealed evidence of codeine and paracetamol in Mr Owen’s blood in concentrations ‘possibly in the order of fatality’, as well as evidence of cannabis.

Concluding, Dr Nicholas Shaw, assistant coroner for Cumbria, said Mr Owen was ‘by all accounts extremely fond’ of his children.

“They are a long, long way away from him,” said Dr Shaw.

“He is going to miss them terribly and feel lonely.

“He may well have been causing some disturbance on December 6.

“He has gone back to Kendal. He’s tried to get back in touch with the children.

“Tara is, somewhat understandably, reluctant to get involved.”

Dr Shaw recorded a conclusion of suicide, saying: “He has been distressed by the breakdown of a relationship, and this has led to a decision to take his own life.”