Coroner's Finding: Moylan, Mark David
Deceased
Mark David Moylan
Demographics
42y, male
Date of death
2014-01-25
Finding date
2016-06-24
Cause of death
drowning
AI-generated summary
Mark David Moylan, aged 42, drowned in the Tamar River near Gravelly Beach, Tasmania, on 25 January 2014. He had a long history of substance abuse and mental health problems, including depression and bipolar affective disorder. Days before his death, he was discharged from psychiatric care at Launceston General Hospital following treatment for major depressive disorder and detoxification. On the evening of his disappearance, after purchasing alcohol and prescription medications, he attempted to row his dinghy to his vessel moored 250 metres away. He was observed not wearing a lifejacket and appearing intoxicated. The coroner found he had likely consumed 39 of 50 prescribed Diazepam tablets, accounting for his impaired state. The most probable explanation is accidental drowning: he fell into the water while attempting to board his vessel and could not rescue himself despite being a strong swimmer in youth. No evidence of foul play or suicide was identified. The coroner made no recommendations.
AI-generated summary and tagging — may contain inaccuracies; refer to original finding for legal purposes.
Contributing factors
- alcohol intoxication
- prescription medication (Diazepam) overdose
- not wearing lifejacket
- depression and mental health issues
- impaired judgment and motor coordination
- attempted to row boat in incapacitated state
Full text
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